No.4 CHRISTMAS 1985 Special issue, special price £1.50

® Superb animation

» Kicks, punches, chops

» Slow-motion action replays » Exciting two-player option 5 » Atmospheric music , | D F

Demanding, rerrifying, body crunching orlental combar!

Two amazing new games for the Amstrad CPC 464/664/6128 —for more details and full instructions see p16-17

® Super-fast 3D graphics " S ' D E

>» Amazingly addictive gameplay | >» Ducking, leaping, dodging

® Skulls, vultures, cobras

» Frantic musical accompaniment

Roller-skate your way fhrough @ space-age nightmare!

Wa = 464 into 6128 @ easy graphics designing @ hilarious board game @ maps of Marsiort

Nonterraqueous @ 1986 diary @ game review bonanza ® spreadsheets @ competitions @ playing tips @ special offers @ and much more

ITelephone: 061 832 6633 STelex: 669977

Ocean Software Limited 6 Central Street - Manchester

- 5 EE bodnil i

Ocean Software is available from selected branches of (92°), W HSMITH , 4ERIIEIIS. WOOLWORTH .LASKYS, Rumbelows.Greens.

Spectrum Shops all good software dealers. Trade enquiries welcome.

te ar naar rata as aa

| 38 Chasaann.

E-UP

AMSTRAD ACTION CHRISTMAS 1985

cena

awe a

COVER GIFT SPECIAL

SSE bgieec anime ene eT eT EE

ie! eee a See ee: eras ie ee en Intriquing arcade adventure, featur ing superb graphics, arobot, a loaf of bread and a toaster

eerie werk

46 Strangeloop. Huge and colourful, Virgin's latest has ail the slickness of Sorcery and just as much great gameplay

46 Doors of Doom. 4 gem (rom Gem. thisscrolling exploration game has marvellous graphics, neat scrolling and a super scenery-<lesign option

48 Hyper sports. The long awaited waggler [rom Ocean proves to be full cf strength and suppleness. Shoot the skeet, lift the weight, vault the horse and much, much more.

50 Computer Hits. Great value for money on this

compilation. just about every variety of gameplay you could want

56 Obsidian. -

and ajens

62 They Solda neaaon.

as wall. Four superb qames on one cassette

surful screens packed with puzzles

They li gellatew mora

SPECIALS

100 Marsport- mapped! -

mega-qame in full Amstrad ActionColour

ingoyle s huge

58 Money, money, money! ur grea board gare gives you the chance to make jt \o the lone of the micro Business

32 The Ocean Empire. Goris Anderson takes the lid off one of Britain's biggest software houses

96 Nonterraqueous/Soul ofa Robot

“mapped! to monster Mastertronic gamesin all their glorious detail

a sae se ey | i

i ens

30 1986 Diary A light-hearted — very boht-hearted — look

al what might just happen in the world of Amstrad next yoar

Pap baeelbee.- scan ceor

games when you subscnbe to Amstrad Achon

76 Lord of the Rings. 50 competition winners

will play Bilbo Bagcins in Melbourne House's huge now adventure

106 Mail Order.

software and geta FREE game

76 Cauldron. few

one of 50 copies of the qame or a grea! Cauldron trophy

LEE US Gold

2

This is the deal - buy £15 wortho

ing two-in-one competition — win

. : ii — Pray j 7zZMastertronic magnanimity. po the difference and you could win a £4 software voucher plus the hilariouys micro quide Micromania

4 ji ‘ = 4) 6 Fd-Lines. The eclitor E (christmas message To ihe ~~ people. Plus some more important bits

4 a, pany et _ 8 ReAction. Bags of YOUR controversial letters *'. <a \,

18 Amscene. All ihe latest from | hé Amstrad action,

LWey,

3 | Tre 24 Serious Software. 4 long, hardlookat : Wy spreadsheets, Plus what to do with a toolkit (ate)

| Me 34 Type-ins. Design you own graphics with this great

listing from David Muir

ay

37 Action Test.

section becuis

Where our exhaustive dames review

60 venue ofthe People. \ YOUR chance lo give

TOUR CPIMNONSs t ft he dames we Ve already reviewed

80 Adventures. The e Pilgrim reviews the latest games and looks at a H

qaventure creators. Plus all the uauals

92 Cheat Mode. asses of maps. tips and pokes

104 High Score.

rat a challenge the cheats,

Ne a, 106 Hot Stuff. Special offers and Mail Order. NS

108 Readers’ Charts... What you thinks ihe best

inthe world of qames and serious software

109 Forms. The all-in-one action ontry form

Compare yourself with the beat, Or

BOUNTY BOB STRIKES BACK!

Twenty-five Le five Levels. Multi Channel Music. Dual Joystick Capability.

“Bounty Bob Strikes Back” isthe sequelto “Miner 2049er which was a huge success on the Commodore 64 and Atari machines. Now on the Amstrad. this ver- sion features Bob's toughest challenge to date and he needs your help more than

ever before to guide himthroughthe mine.

The mutant organisms within have multi- plied and over run the mine entirely, making it éxtremely difficult to survive the hazards of the underground passage-

AERDRRRAS ehas

inh 3 ¥ 4

ways. Using hich powered special

equipment in the twenty-five caverns is Bobs only hope of achieving his objective ofsecuring the mine and deteating the evil plans of Yukon Yohan.

BEACH-HEAD

__ Multiscreen 3- 3-D ) Arcade Actio Action

A peaceful island is being held = a ruthless dictator and his troops, As Chief Commander of land and sea forces in the Pacific, you must obtain a quick naval victory and then invade the island with land forces. If your troops succeed in penetrating the island defence systems. the most difficult challenge still remains; capturing the enemy fortress of Khun Lin.

Beach-Head is a multiscreen action game which requires different skills and provides new sequences as you progress through the game.

_BRUCE LEE

"Twenty sec secret chambers to explo re

Unique multiple player options

Dazzling graphics and animation

———— Ce ee

In “Bruce Lec” you will experience the power and the glory of Bruce Lee, one of the greatest masters of the martial arts.

As Bruce Lee, you will confront a barrage of vicious foes. You must penetrate the fortress of the Evil Wizard and claim his fortunes. Destroying the Wizard will earn you immortality and infinite wealth!

RAID!

~ Gripping / Arcade Action

Multiple 3-D Sci 3-D Scrolling Screens

The scene is one of World-wide conflict. The only hope of saving the World from nuclear annihilation is an attack by stealth bombers on the launch sites,

As squaciron leader, you must lead your troops ona virtual suicide mission: knock- out the launch sites, and proceed to

the command headquarters. Armedonly with the weapons you carry. you must destroy the defence centre and stop the attack!

DAMBUSTERS

Superk perb Graphics and Sound

At: 21.15 hours on the evening of May 16th 1943, a flight of specially prepared Lancaster bombers left R.A.F Scampton for Germany. And so, one of the most dar- ing and courageous raids of the Second World War was underway. Now you have the opportunity to relive the drama and excitement of this famous action via your Amstrad computer. You willtakethe parts of Pilot. Navigator. Front and Rear Gunners, Bomb Aimer and Flight Engineer as you play this authentic reconstruction of the night's events. The multiple screen action is complemented by a compre- hensive package of flight documents and authentic material from the period.

IMPOSSIBLE MISSION _

‘Game of the’ of the Year 1965- British Micro Awards

Message from the Agency computer ay

.. Lour mission, Agent 4125 is to foil a horrible plot. From an underground laboratory, Elvin, the scientist. is holding the world hostage under threat of nuclear annihilation. You must penctrate his stronghold, avoid his human-seeking robots and find piecés of the security code. somersault over the robots or use a precious snooze code to deactivate them long enough to search each room. Use the

<<

Agency's computer to unscramble the

passwords from the code pieces, or try to

solve them yourself. You'd better beware..... his mission is stamped IMPOSSIBLE!”

U.S. Gold Limited, Unit 10. The Parkway Industrial Centre Heneage Street. Birmingham B7 4Ly. Telephone: 021-359 8881 Telex: 357268.

‘All sereen shots as seen on the Commodore 64

| | Dear Readers, = | First of all- Merry Christmas. = Second - and a happy New Year. Well, that's the seasonal goodwill out of the way. By now you should have taken in the stunning news on the cover. Two previ- ously unreleased Ocean games for next to nothing. OK, so we had : to put the price up for the occasion, but we're sure you'll think it's worth it, Bob Wade spent hours playing the two gamés, so they

must be good.

We think you'll find the rest of this first Christmas issue of Amstrad Action pretty action-packed as well. We're bigger than last month because we've got some extra-special festive treats: stacks of maps, an exciting computerised board game, some pre- dictions of what might happen next year (if pigs could fly), and a review of the DE Tronics memory expansions. Asifall that weren't enough there's extra space for the regular reviews, adventures and letters. Don't read it all at once, or you might need all the Alka- Seltzer.

The AA Team will be taking a short Christmas break to re- cover from the wild festivities here in Somerton, but normal trans- mission will be resumed early in 1986. See you then.

*ubscription

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| WERE GOING TO DO THE IMPOSSIBLE! |

| [SOMETHING THEY'VE ASKED us | | To Do FOR YEARS: .

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I Coan Sei rte A DELIVER THose 3 cage Press GAM ES!

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PLG*PETE CONNERS 608 BY PAUL GILL

£50 SOFTWARE WINNERS

tes ; 22 | | Here are the names of the lucky

13-year-old MARK BUNYAN from St Albans in Herts, 40-year-old PAUL LEE of Watford, Herts, and ANGELA WILLANS of Henley- on- Thames whose age is ‘over

|

pad RB ne ig a aria ie bat ae Seat oat oy eae x

a i 4 oe

Amstrad Action is looking for an Armold enthusiast to join the team early in the new year. The person we're looking for is likely to be something of a boffin, | with a really thorough knowledge of the Amstrad’s hardware and | software, and absolutely must be | ready and willing to lend a hand in anything from making tea to writ- ing The Mastergame review. He — or she — will be familiar with both games and serious software, since he — or she — will have to write somereviews of software in both these areas. Knowledge of the seri- ous side of things is particularly desirable,

One thing you must be able to

| do to be seriously considered is to write well and clearly. If you can also manage 6 spot of wit now and again, so much the better.

Southern Belle

S. Doyle, Bloxwich Chns Browning, Ewell, Surrey: M.G. Barker, Thurso: Kang Wong, Coventry R. McDonald. Slough M.D. Sims, Ingatestone, Sseox Allan Price, Bramley, Leeca: Lawrence Smith Newport, Gwent: A. Gillespie, wahmilis: J. Clement, Her: ford. Mark Brewer, Great rarmoutn: | James Pugh, Salforc Michael Stirling | Dundee: Jon Harding, ‘ranage Steven Warne, Lei CGSlET J. Hyde Kelvedon, Essex KarlSteanson, [7 Thirsk: Mark Royster, Bury: Stuart \

The Covenant

D. J. Wilson, Stoke-on-Trent: Mark Sut- ftom, Swansez. Andrew Duff, Tain Andrew Cunningham, Sunderland Darren Timming, Dudley Michael Dunse, Bounyriag, Midiothian: P. Cor- sar. Ciackmannan, Scotland: B, jones, Basingstoke: Shaun Holt, Ramsbottom: CG. Morgan, Swansea. Michael Clark. Newtongrange: lan Jackson, Vio)ver- hampton: ].F. Conybeare, Bridgend: Anthony Knife, Romford: M.R. Parash- char, Litieborough, Lancs' D.M. White, Manchester Billy Watson, south Quensferry, Scotland: Michael]. Hart. Birmingham: Peter White, She® field: Mr J.8. Gandy. Sheffield: John Walker, Alexandria, Dunbartonahire:

Hutchinson, Reading Mark Connor, ceeds P. Hewins, Cambridge: Peter Clark. Glasgow: Neil Yardley, Taw- ley Richard Taylor, Wirral, Mersey- se Mark Postle-Hacon, Plymouth Td stewart Hackley, Poynton, Cheshire Miss D.L. Bainbridge. Leeds: D. Rat- aq lames Bastow, London SW: Ole Kris- clife, Surbiton, surrey Claire 4 tensen, Hvidovre, Denmark: Stewart Tumer, Peterborough 5. Clarke, [9 eyes Isleworth, Middlesex: Damian Rugiy T. Trimmins Wok ng james bs | Barrow. Adlington, Nr Choriey D. McCreade. Stevension, ayranire ane WEE ices Sind: Tony Wallis, Shethe:c . Berwick | Coulsdon, Surrey: Stephen Turner Cuildford: |.E. White, himetry a: Ve fence. London Richard Clarke, >tai- | ord: A. Fothergill, dead a j

side Guildford: M. Davies, Hate: “a ].5. Gandy Shefiield Mark Ad- dison, Margaie c. McClecd Elemsthorpe. Léicestersar 9 ‘re EK. O'Connor, Bacup, banics R. Marshall, Redcar, Cleveland: M. Hus- sain, London: Michael Fadge Wiican Mrs, J.Ellis, Huctderstela: Jack Par- ker, Cramlington: A.J. Prigg, Exeter R. Hemmings. Swindon N, Robertson,

Clackmannan

SS: Mark Thomas, Penygrai 7

Fhonidda Andrew Robmson. Ellice mere Port Emma Mier, Chell. Staffs

Anthony Morrey, Ruisip: Gerry | Hughes, Cranleigh: J. E. Hyde, Col- chester: JM. Crawiord, Tiverton: Luke Watson, Homseea, North Hum berside: E.Seymour, Haathheld, East J sussex: R. McClenaghan, Liverpool: | COPIGS O1 ine I

you could call

mouth: MLR. Tallis, Tonperiey, Cheah- | ire: P.J. Bertram, BFPO 801: P. Straker, | Olney, Bucks

O CcIime along

al : ss a | a2 oe : = ore ee rr 3 re } r. : sree : 4 = : : ie : a e : SF i a : : fos : =e . : ; 7 Sa ? oP iu ay, F . eT = ' a z a oa “: ry o 2 i : | 2OD Ie a. = { i r tL Th a | ; | sai Rees ae : ee | | T~ 3 = Ge: cre eho) bt ; EE heb ee See pele - | ii Presi t., ea ann ncn gl ed a ae : et a iF i / : ; : ? 3 7 | EE: » ; ‘7 a ‘ene , 2 + 3 : <= ” - z rm mt i i : 7" fur

Belvedere Kent: J.J. Howat, London 4 | ee datehi relat hiiliis show j Only last month you about the a: | We Shayler Dunstable Tom | | ald at the Hrs Amstrad show 1 McFarlane, ficesater: LT. Mathie, Dun- | Cictener, Now 4 | stable: Matthew Hadfield Sidcup: Wil- YOu Liat i YOu re i. liam Freeland, Dalke:th. Midlothian: | Hammersmith a N

G. Graham Cardiff C.G. Martin, Ply- " Irom te ovel work: qd presse;

The job, of course, will be based here at AA GHQ in dear old Somerton. 50 one thing you need to consider is whether you would like to live ino small country town, with litte in the woy of nightlife or pub- lic transport. Youdon'thave tabea nature lover, but it might help.

A few final points: you must be atleast 18 years old, of sound mind and body and be able to type with at least two fingers.

lf you think you could fit that rigorous bill, then apply in the fol- . lowing manner: send a letter giving personal details, o photograph if possible, a cv. and typewritten samples of a qames review and a serious software review to: The Eai- for, Amstrad Action, Somerton, somerset TAT? / PS.

Applications should arrive by January 1 3th.

Td i Ti ar 1 a met fe Wel Lables

on time han

vere reminding nthe vieinity of Nevete:, In Lbon-

don, on January [lth and lz

in at the :

weal

ind say hello Or

inytrung else you Want tt

reer rn

=e

: ea aa

What a massive mailbag we've had lately! Winter must set you itching to put pen to paper and fingers to key- board. As a special Yuletide present we've boosted ReActionto a massive seven pages, as well as including some of those crazy cartoons you've been sending in.

lf you want to make your views known in the new year, get down to it NOW! There is no time to waste. Send your letters to: ReAction, Amstrad Action, Somerton, somerset TAT] 7PS.

And don't forget that the liveliest letter-writers will be receiving FREE SOFTWARE!

of having a word processor at such a low price

Only connect Poe a Your sor

| bit ra tly but compared to my po- rtable typewriter itis buta gentle hush. | touch-type afl about 40wpm and I find the keyboard just fine. | got the WP mainly te write novels and short stories, Also my correspondence, which doesn'tadd up to much At first I thought I'd have to go ana course to learn how to use it. But in about two weeks | had | mastered all the things I needed from it. One difficulty I ran into - and I don't think this is unique to Amstrad — is the jargon flung around loosely in the manuals. It | Must be a reflection of the times

KENNETH FEE,

S.F. Dunn Cookham, Berks

as this is also prevalent in your Magazine, Sometumes it's incom- prehensibie, as if you re trying to say everything in machine code During the latter part of my working life | programmed with COBOL. Now itlooksasiffhavete use BASIC with my PCW, although the blurb says COBOL is available. Anyway, after COBOL BASIC seems a gimmicky thing and you long to go back to the simplicity — if long-winded — of COBOL. Well, your English

Faint praise

l am. a bit disappointed in James

Hartley's checkout of Amstrad’s

newest all-in-one PCW8256. his

faint praises would seem like the

kiss of death tome. Had [not gone

out and bought one on the} strength of last month's review |

would never have known the joys

SJANUARY 1986 AMSTRAD ACTION Tickngs of comfort

ladmut that the keyboard isa |

phrases in the magazine are very ey Wiesel

gimmicky and I ¥v er i you | EyebeRtg stir don tiong to go back to plain un | Ree sGSUReesr ce

1 rEetsa ht S zc = Ter as ee oe 5 ee ae ee Se te, a ak A boil ih hia Mee aie ci

But! quess you are aiming at ihe young games players. So you are feeding them the latest in computerese so they can be in- tellicibie to each other.

Sorry to have digressed a bit, butatG8lfeltan opinion rising Within me that had to be heard. In any case I find the PCW8&256 a great machine ].Moffat Angmering, Sussex

id == Fr

rae fF jukewarm side, and I think he might now De a line more en- iiusiasic about ite POW S256 We try to cater for every Amstrad owner, nof just the younger games players, and we do try to avoid the use of excess- ive jargon. Cbvicusily, we're not ways successiul.

james Mamhey was a litle

North West users

. W.idlands

SS

a ia eee : fn See come nen oo ae

og ‘a

te bao “41 fy

Seah saree a eer ae = er ee ER Ph ltt

Care tat Sate SS - 2 =.

a bes . 7 Pra

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The review review llike the way you keep doing you ace reviews of software and

hardware. so I've compiled my

Own review on you

GRAPHICS 74%:: Great illust- rations and covers, not forgetting Teot. Lots of humour

SONICS 80%: It sounds great to |

my inends and the pages make a nice sound.

GRAB FACTOR 91%: It grabbed me straight away after the cy cops eye hypnotised me. STAYING POWER 87%: I'll stay

with you (prebably due to my | |] subscription) and so will a lot of | | people.

KENNETH FEE, Dunoge |

ae a

pe tne tori wil f seach gecesi

Pie =i ane

MY RATING 90%): Best magazine outfor the Arnold

Donald Sharkey

Scunthorpe

Great review, Donald. You say he nicest things —even il they are only the tru.

Unrepentant I missed Issue 2 of Amstrad Ac fon but on reading ReAction | hoticed in two letters from a Mr Gareth Knight of Manchester and a Mr. Gerald Earnshaw of Waz rington that they disagreed with my views cf your magazine. We! I don't really care. Everyone is entitled to their own views. Did Churchill ask Hitler fer advice on D-Day 19447 No he didn't

Anyway, that's not the re ason that! write to you again. The reasonis thatinmy view Amstrad Action is beginning to improve Futcomparedto Computing With the Amstrad and Amstrad Com- puter User your magazine has still room to be improved

It needs colour. All you have todoistopickupacopy cf ACU in your left hand a copy of AA ir your right and the cifference is

S osc =wemet toot

k ot = ee ee eee | or th

| CHurse wea iove fo

put me off your first eclition was the front cover which made it | look like a magazine devoted to |games and turning my good

friend Armold into a Spectrum. This is something | would never want to see. fuse an Amstrad CPC 464 with dual-dise system (DD-1 and FD-|) and this type of set up has been proved by many small businesses as a powerful tool and a great aid to their business.

Notonly dol play games like Beach Head which work ex- tremely well, but | use my Amstrad for word processing and databases, which proveio be powerful things. All Amstrad computers and penpherals are very well-made and very reli- able. Amstrad is the only com- puter company which hasn't had a failed product and is also the only company that has gotits pro- ducts right first ume

Another qood pomt in your favour is that you do review other software apart from games, which seem to dominate many magazines today. e.g. on page 22 of Issue 3 you have reviewed three word processors and each review dives a qood, condensed and easy-to-understand set-out of how each one operates. This is

qood because you do this and sls = # ita 2

The oniy other thing that |

would personally find interesting Fis the occasional disc utility or

general disc information.

Wel, I think that covered tt

land, believeltor not, [have made | a subscription to AA!

D. Butterworth

} Lymington, Hants.

idid st, D. Butterworth. f picked up a December copy of ACU in

oa my let hand and a December

copy of AA in my nght. And da

you know what! discovered after |

J put them down and looked

#1 through them? AA had two more

full-colour pages than ACU! OF use more

i Ee Sth

ae) CO/OUr, Dut ifs very expensive) ri a

Sand we're

very poor But

we ‘li doour best.

acd poy AMSTRAD ACTION JANUARY ] 986 a

|

Paranoid plea

| ane me itisn't true! Please tell me al the ‘mega map you're wor bing t on is not Nonterraqueous. It cant be When | read your re- view of Nonferrag UeOuUs in issue 1 of AA | went out and bought a jcopy. Then, when | read yout | £300 challenge I decided to have ago at mapr ing it. After hours of Giticemvieies an fo finish it-(1 stain on it réad im Issue

Now a

somewhere |

é that deep

the bowels of AA HO a ‘monster’ | is being mapped. Is this)

Game some other game? Am] just para- noida? Or has Lady os really emacke a me in the nouth with her | bag this ime?

here: it is

ba Te Anyw ay, the map, playing tips, a lo pregram that gives infimie lives ibe a List és pokes tor redehining he keys, Was thisall for nothing? hope not. tn sure you can use some of it, What | would really like is to qetmy hands on some of that £300 P me know if I've Don't make me

ase ict wasttad my time

| wailfor Issue J

| Dean Adam

Bertastiii

Tes

You |

F Dea, i if

meee ote hs oe Wee "y + be es renal NO iat

| Chea :

mr apsier Look af rar

fode pages and qaze « fe frums of your jabo | gorgeous could

» 4] __ . vours. Sorry

roan stnif

pir . cis iSie

An artist writes

Well done on producing such a brilliant magazine!! Unhke the magazine | usually get - Com- puter and Video Games —lam not absolutely bored with the art icles, but have read every word of them, | hope you keep up such good interviews, And the compe- titiens - SUPER ULTRA | MAGNIFICENT. Iam entering all of them including the years ) subscription

| Alas | must grumble. Please |advise Trevor Gilham to take |} more care over his drawings | And finally you couldn't possibly make the reviews section more organized?

Leon Orr

Belfast

sweat | managed | there's even a cco |

There's

fas! 4 Hormel

Ti lai | De | Wwe cect you wat

Advise? You think ‘Trev’ listens advices 18 doesn feven listen | etic aecs

Excuses, excuses

Action, After reading through, |

my conversions for the Amstrad namely, 3D Time-Trek, pub- lished by Anirog, After the ae review commenis you gave it, | feel] must state that ie adios!

sel spec “fication, Ing factor 1s that the CBM-64, V [C- au better

Besides that, it'sagreat mad, ana watch out for a game | am Working on at the moment which! am Whiting On my ideas and am sel lo no spec. It's called Supa

you may be

to Vove and even prised by it Stefan Walker Selston, Notts.

Sufr=

Pit idee | — — ae . ak ee oe a oe rh Fy ey aes ! At oJ ia pre iF Le a nl ot dal ares wy 2 AY ee | = | FE i Tae ae oP cor OT oon — of = F wil a oo ho = a ¥ fy EL aa # a fae re 5 z het hel - Ak 1s | Ti: i ii fF r rr r eee 3 2, FP © ii CPE oe oes roy ae Peer cr

Tm hoping 1 will by Christmas.

rweo mincas. to choose either an

Jessel), but AA: has persuaded : me towards the Amatrad: duetoyour zines format, style ete. All the | other computer ‘zine: and pathetic: even so are some | other Amstrad ‘#inest've bought, | but won't be a name-dropper, bur ae just say Amstrad Com- puter User is a list-full ‘zine and notanice kind ofreading. Oh yes, your reviews look most accurate and. ifmd this very assuring. Hopefully oi] get an ‘Armold’ i wibserine AA: $0 don | runout of that free software stock! One pep pai ei Pe FOS OPY.

Winning style

Thank you for a new and exciting mag which took me by surprise and has so far made very qood reading the past two months — | will look forward to reading it

1OJANUARY 1986 AMSTRAD ACTION Wy 10cCStir siae preeeiia?

Looking through the magazine rack of my local newsagent, | saw anew publication called Amstrad

noted that you reviewed one of

conversion and | had to work io | thus the result- |

) Spectrum versions are no |

: any ane of Aroarrad: paral yess Anyway Dve been fora while oe

Amstrad or another computer ay- stem {which ‘shall: Fernain: name-

are boring |

every month

[mustéay the pul together is very qood [y¥ have 4 winning style} and Moe people like had a computer before and don't go in for pages of listi take hours to

ings which type in (| only use one finger) and work af

heVver seem to any ie ay Pilgrim has mace

7 ee

his mark on me

with his pages and I will always |

be a follower of his Please keep up the good

WOrk a3 we are not all computer

wizards! Some of us are still just

fleagqlings trying to learn the art.

Michael Worth

Portsmouth

Yahoo You've done Congrats!

Why all this eupheonar Wel, you've ft ollowad an excellent first issue with a superb No.2 off course. And there's all the signs| of getting better as ttmé goes on. Well done

I'm pleased to hear of your plans to provide an indication off pr ogi ams’ compatability for the] 6128 and 664 as well as the 464. | know there are many readers who would welcome such if formation. [know that] arn not the

4 risk with a 464

il would work on my 6126, only to fing tt doesn | Aithough a risk that recently paid off was the highly addictive Bou! derdash — please find enclosed! my entry for the High Scores table

I'd like to thank whoever | spoke to on the telephone last weck for help on my loading pro blems with the Lords of Midnight

it! Yahoo! Hrilll

only one to take game, hoping

ili was very reassuring ‘oc find }such fnendly people and a qenu

Ine willingness to help, espec: ally as it was after 5pm on a Fri- day! So, whoever it Was thanks yery much

John Cussen Portsmouth

ROY KAY, WIRRAL ,

lasts it has yeon |

mysel who haven't |

The

FROM GAAHAM GRIFF, PAIGNTON.

Analogically yours

* aa i fas rit eo LS el iF r i. m+ nye = ; ii a eS =, 1 ar — = i == « PeRDCTTIL b Ee i ithe Lf Crh MUS Ps |

Cal, (et (Coranaca, one does not say, “How cdoaa it compare with oer Ford Grana das,’ one "How does compare with a Volvo, Vauxhall or Fiat!"

=. oars Too en ee oe Lis. Se ya Ford

fel ys

Likewise if you review a yame that is obviously inferior to Uh mmModore ve then

so! To juage | 1 Amstrad game is say to software houses, 'Don't worry if its simply a cheap and revamped Spectnim game, with no thought given to the Anistrad’s memory, graphics and Hecause Wont say iat COMpPareas 1010 cir versions, |" It might interest you to knew

aS an example, that | have suc-

essfully brought a case agains Us Gold under the Trade De.

Srey Let |/ oe! er le ee scriptions Aci, because

7 4 Rema ot a "tact Sea. Pol os 'f

nasty,

Or use extra sound, inyihing eT Thane

We

their Amsirad Beachhead was not re- motely hke the screen shot on the cassette. Does that prove a point? In all other respects your maga Zine is excellent!

Mr P Long

Bristol

can see your point, Mr. lyaqree wii if.

nalogy OF ie cars works better if you Tré comparing hardware?.A ford Granadaisob:- VIOUSIy Digger, faster, more comfortable than a Mini, Butitaiso costs a Jot more and a direct con parison of ihe} eee wowan trealy 1p anyone very much, That doesn fF imean fo: 6 fiat wei Jef software fiouses get away wifi Shoda) GCONVErSIONs, any more

Wine f Long, ident QUreiy fea

This is a letter from an Amstrad user written on an. Amstrad ma- chine to the letters page of an Amstrad magazine nun by... Weil, I won't go any further with that. I

won't bother with the usual great mag, keep up the good work ec. as | beech adi sama =

maybelam. =... «so much a problem with adven-~ our mac = _ Ihave transferred several and 6ye pate i be tediscwithvery litieprolem but Steve Brok

“Some nupplieis are very — good (Tasman, Cambelletc }and provide instructions or write - the. oni their programa so that if you do. hea

transfer to disc then anything . you saved or loaded will save or. load ake notice fo disc not cassette. This is very: ace ni

Cento hinge deca ah nary up comes the ‘Press play and rec. ~ then any key.’ Not a great help if So. canis loads in 10 or 12 sec-

= ! ie™ seated, Sone ay ends, Then you have to wait mins | tein: type. fnotforanun: — Sie! load 1 in your position. Gne po- | derstanding. shop I would be the <gmbie answers would be not to

| call 10. Virgin, (aher the” fact) eS

| ehiane publishers want to stop — | unauthorised copies of their programs and as such are’ not — very helpful asi to. transterring © their programs: to disc, Dur Hey [have r believe that ‘The I wil have: to face ie ie Pilgrim’ is in fact two people ‘sooner oF: later the over . a either that or heis schizophren ic. #8 eihauace discs of wha format_ PT The ciue that lead me to alta tetes bo

iftying conclusion was dropped in

the November iss

Ln page 83 val Nie end

article on transferring

Wace From tape to disc BS wrote ‘Next month 5

you how totransfer Fobin o/She

Wood to disc —a boon because 1

a Drilliant game,

However, afew bages Previous

ly The Pilgrim described the same game as ‘really rather la king mm state-of-the-art pro gramming techniques’ and says that it is ‘not much better than the | | games we were all playing two |

f years ago

Schizoid Pilgrim

Pas mod rik ie oo

the a e Vert the writer

mer wre il

it gets better

Having teday bought the second

sue ol AAlcanonly say thatit’sa

Great improvement over issue

one, which was obviously 4 rush job

| TOUr OWN Survey and o

Amstrad User show that a

number of Amstrad ownersare in

‘mature bracket Magazine 18 ¢

yne in

the * yVOUr

SODLTC well with this need to please the | Can hardig ri | + ai ibe = Tah ee Ta, | — a = : HE fgets | wouncer readers and us olde sqlite person WOU Wie wo ‘amesters

such Opposing stat

coulda you tell us who is/are

Pilar ims)!

Anthony Brady a Sittingbourne, Kent

iis 4 iar cop. We can only hope

fi viney doesn t/don't frag even further, We can just With 4# personality ed PS

KENNETH FEE, DUNDEE.

i. laf se men

about ar iy i Es? fwe

cope ii

7 : bul ome

son giving (nree — or more — dif ferent opinions would be foo En, 7 ely ia. ip op r ra if ee a f MVC , Bul Wwe Stu aainle fey; YOu \ a who is/are/will be The Piigrim(s) (a) Dp rys ; | hi aoe oe ‘eal j P i a, —F-ets ies a Le am 8 * vi, —-

| ast of Sorcery out: as it will not “write specific cassetie routines as : — oe eS

Y geconay. +t spore tl that”

large |

I feel that |

per Z - =

- ipdone 21 Mardon’s Quest, (thank you: ;UurMe Howse), oT put: dual savefload routines for disc

: jes think that soft-. “ware — care more itor their

oe gee do not pane the fine. Hons that your customers want — = then you. can imagine what will — Riso Please. can they what omachine their ns. sare for a as some label-

ES EE

with a free game or whether in Basic or code? John Wright

selston, Notts

that you have decided to include ublity listings in future issues. | know | some people are hotly against listings butlsuspecithey only use heir computers to play games. Amstrac Basic is capable of pro- ducing some good games, and

listings help the beqinner to see

i certainiy was a rush. And thin: gs are sit! hectre. Were glad

i you app! rove of list-

pretty

how programs can be written ims, aii mougn we don't think

Most people should be able to

nere should be any Gib bligation on program moderately well and | 5 [

peopie fo do anything profound

eoOnie a he

strong! y feel itis wrongto! eer | 7 od FTE foes Auli das if you just ‘s, " rh ee Pate mab ats 7, PP or + fh TT we | om | a

ee Comp uier vil oe be ul ! i@a4rl Ln 1 a ro == 4 - i . Pe re r at F ra Vall-

progra um. Anyway what's wrong bie, what's the hann?

Or Christmas presens AMSTRAD ACTION JANUARY 1986 1]

se ee ee Se

a i offers, wo were REMWETH FEE, md ee ee would be finishod pees y 71 a J Bie dow Lo MARS P oR rT

= a * oe "] i | T =". i =Fa go outfo readers. Unfortunaleiy

Wwe Were Wrond ald &0 ITS Tit

for Yet anc miner qQrovenuimngd, hand-

wringung Pfc _apoiog Le

— J

Their finest hour Ey the summer of 1940 Hitle army had invaded ana aécncied mucn of Poland and al lofNorway Holland, Belanum and the best part of France. We stood alone Churchill said (18 June 1940), Sates é Lj // : ‘Hitler knows that he will have to wun the cond bane —— . break us in this sland or lose the wis a ee war. if we can stand upd to him, all Europe may be free.

Hitler planned to invade En.

: Sg SS ree Ce qiand that year for which he

jicks never crumble tit ttoeeiieed | ncoded air superiority He cid David Pearson offered = games {0 sale that were | not get it because the RAF won | Nuneaton 10 vhere neat ready for release | the Battle of Britain that summer. set | and the invasion was postponed indefinilée.y leading eventially ta his losing the war

| a le

Ee | fee |listings look as though they Te “senate eer fees | ouid fo fake up permanent! re le : a i ws 1 = os a z a ae ne is 7m _ F “ . oe _ P| = : é | fidence in these pages, David, Aller all that it may se¢ sa “tit We ought not to forget our mainly he " aR nye most peo ati =, jaa Fay rl He ae bul [ ‘ realy ae dare ie fhe RAF, F nti what better like AA; infact | fee! itis easily the ie yee EEE av way to remember it than in a

ment sage i.

Se@lT! (0 nexe them. Sut daont

Hest Macarne ceé ale F } | worry — they're never going to Fa Mmacqar ai ‘dicated game of skili which reminds us of mS bs r = rh i a een = a ers | eare ey = 1 x monopelise space. Why don't | MRIS BIS Reese s- an important episode in our lives,

Ves might | Selonee | e good work! Pt nae , u give one 4 gor rou nugn please keep up | ne gocd worh and also teaches us something

even like it. Revi ou weofnew soft | RUREIiiS take eR | out handling resources?

ware willalways bea major part | RAMA SShaae ASMartin

of AA. Res ania tharwe'lire- | EBARSLG lkeston, Derbyshire

aa i = | View any game we can gef our Newbury, Berkshire |

eh ‘ poate = | hands on, and that the big ones | PS There is nothing wrong with res Tree more when vou

le erie bine : See seat i ie a wii! oet Bu coveracqe | Libera! Party broadcast net au thar we Hot io forcvetthe Rattle F " 7 J e . ‘ a F rt ‘ i r é : aaa = ‘ 7 i im -. P ee man I a thr : sess : ; : : f ‘ se Aha i 1 i a 5 = i om ie . si EJ rh = | oo Ps. a iR = Ted aa ee ee i “aoe posi wiacee Siericeca 3 : 7 : ; . = 1 i 1 Ae : Lai . ai r I nr} 5 I am I A. 7 Pld ‘on al t ¥ i , ; a ? = +e fp ce i ' a 4 if nat CHe;r r IT -™ ry ae rm r be EF a7) he a ‘ta a} ‘a é ral

ne] " " = = ae | ee ee a ey + Pp bre FLF F it ee ee ge ey Li Pra iit

= wil | TT. sp i - =F ways of reminding people of the

Ee de ee fj fi 7 Po eg e = i We ve DIiiied ally

t hoe Sl

Parr

| Anti-Type-ins >. | Mae ref technical mumbo-rumbo yer Al | xii OF Stn | Having finally chosentostick with | “HAP |: 74 — / wr articles on serious software |i—_-——aee AA | thought I'd write in to say a CONE Fiera) ave been aimed at informing game, DUT th: at Sab Nisa Game, how goodIthinkitis. 'veseenall | Jy, "eZ, Ake. 7/7, | | Epa ar eee Te which few pe ople will bother to | four Amstrad mags but knew that | , = cot. RS RS the So ies nahn ia Telate in any sericus way to the [| couldn't afford to fork out four i= . = AES year 1340 quid a month to have them all. so ultimately it boileddewnto AA, | 4°= . more colou Healiv. which I find if not totally original of | would be colouro ery E a“ age, {I Te, | at least the clearest and most en- eer | Pacer eee se

ine rie

joyabie available. shout£}O Still, | must agree with lan |IRERE d Actic mis the only mage font tle steep Ridley that you should cut out the [EAST ieee atermali ieee a tie | As

program listings. fl wanted that |EBesistalacuceme emis lime) sy uielitay,

kind of stuff] would have stayed |ieiegogs iowever I have

| with those certain other maqga- |B MeResee eae Lek ee a aid

@ines. Onelistingamonthmay not |e Vagal tia) | {te A

| Béirich, BAL hat ena could fin ne of RLEMT GAS , aig

| page be putto? Please keep it out. } | | RLOOP THE de are @ |

| But, whatever you do, don’t cut rst and foremost, [do NOT | Th, Un i —

down on the number of games |RUQE MIRC Mw siasete miele mers Toor ! [is |

youreview You manage a good |(Paiie sisi Aistelsuiies tesla sien iesstae 3

selectionatthe present timeand a | [RANMA Ut ts) (carye. te met) eee

page for the AA raves is just | IR eCri sees eeseere la listen ene

enough to cover the game in | ERE V DBs ailtestachcns lee Such

depth. Qne extra point would be technical information” is often

a special section devoted to pre- | RRIMaielacisrcprcialte

views of forthcoming games. But | 38 condiy, the presentation

i you keep the stancdara as hich | Pe seems Mirscen lem Ter

| as itis] will be quite happy more generous use of colour (as- , |

| andithink Iwill stick rome faithful | Pee ses Give EAR , LAO old newsagent. Keep on turning Fina ily althourth tl

out the masties and May Your JOySt- offersin issue }] were remar ce

lg JANUARY l S86 AMSTRAD ACTION Drop usa hnesn BE

_ - _

el

matches.

14 ; Mark White rag | Cork, Eire

2. ae,

More opinions? [think Amstrad Actionis THE best Magazine for the Amstrad, but! co have one minor quibble. I think that the reviewing section is great, with the second opinion, and I now read that you are intro- ducing #ven more. But what about the adventure review columns?’ In these we have to be conient with one Opinion, anc a tastes 1n adventure games vary enormously [ think a second and even third opinion should be in- glided. | also think that adven- tures should have their separate top 20 chart, as well as being in cluded in the other charts.

lalso havea query. lam won- dering if you run a back issue ser- vice, as | missed out on Issue 1, and am desperate for 4 copy, a3 Many hospitalised newsagents know, And [| disagree with Andrew Bowden. Toot does not look like a golf ball on stilis, more hkeaping pong ball balancing on

fh

| Pha f = rong faik F

| AMSrad owner;©rs in he area a

| have

You have to understand, Mark.

that the Pilgrim is very fealous of

his position and might not taxe kindivto other folk muscing in on ms column. fm rying {0 per- suade fum fo give ofner voices a hearing, and J think / might soon have some success.

Moaning Minnies Will they ever stop!? MOAN,

MOAN, MOAN, MOAN, MOAN!!! |

is that all they do?

2 § ‘Who?', I hear you asking. CPC

664 owners, that's who, Every

time [ pick up a computer maqa- |

dete bed ERE) oatincy hel] out of him. No not for

pages, just waiting for achance to jump out at you and have a good moan

Well it's about time they stopped, | can understanf their complaint, but do they think they are the only ones who have been disappointed? Because thoy are not.

|. Did you hear CPC464 owners

moaning because they missed

meap £100 of free software. 1° | Gite

©). Did you hear CPC464 owners moaning when the 664 was introduced?

A. NO!

®. Have you heard CPC 464 owners moan because their ma- chines have been de-valued by

Sl] £40 Overnight?

A. NO!

oo come on al] you 664

,owners, you ve had your moan,

now its time to enjoy your com- puter. After all there is some great software around and some

f even better magazines to support syou-ie. AA.

Thanks for a good mag.

}Frank A. Brammer

‘Clwyd, North Wales

rte 7 ye de Tr anes. "34 ! rank, fea Te Le

Fou Le @uiGlornak roi iJ fgse th

Powners very soon now

scrumpy spitting

Im answer io your WEST COUNTRY BLUES” comment in the November issue (page 9), | am writing to inform you that you are mot aione in being the oniy P he lam a proud owner of an Amstrad CPC 464 complete with disc drive and printer (Centronics GLP), Also as You can see from the ad- dress ] am within scrumpy $pitt- ing distance of your fair abode as well, lam ashamed to admit that! been 16 Somerton on hundrecs of oceassions but have never seen your place. Perhaps

| some snotty nosed | gling juvenile, on his 1th million

the gods have been kind to me and have spared me this agony. However it is perfectly clear to me , being the genius that I am, that you are indire need ofhelp. {1 know where the qood scrumpy farms are!!!). [happen to bea first class adventurer. My help is

| sought throughout the land.(Well

Amstrad Computer User'). No adventure defeats me. I do admit to having four or five on the go at the moment, but will undoubted

ly solve them all. Not for me the mindless waqgling of plastic joy- stick, zapping the hell out of some

| poor unsuspecting alien. Let's

face it, the poor blighters are only coing what they have Deen told to do, What reward do they get, | stick wig: |

me, give me the endless maze. Oh the joy of the locked door: the ecstacy of the misty swamp; the smell of burning oil from my lan- tern; the exquisite pain of my rucksack digging into my shoul- der, bulging with all my treasuresltt'!, |

Aha!!, back to the world of the living. Well my Somerton friends you are not alone. | con trolasmall user group inthis area consisting mainly of my work- mates (1 use the word work ad- visedly) atthe last count there are live or more of us Stradcies down ere in Zummerzet, five more than you thought last month eh!!

Well Keep up the average work. | have to go and do a spot more work to ear some money, that I can save up for my Modem, so I can talk to youze guys on the old Telephone jobby weeker. | presume you are up to date enough to actually own some form of telecommunic- ations device, If not you can rent mine,

50 goodbye for now.

The very critical one. Adrian Steel chester, Somerset

or ah

it's a relief to know that there's somebody alse down here with an Amstrad. Bul if you start any of those quaint country habits ike spilingscrumpy, you lf De in tro- uUDJe male

That said, Jm sure the Fil- grim will bé interested to hear of your prowess’ in adventuring. Drop fim a line and become 4 Lord of Adventure

I C00! > AoW Mr TOM Play TM 41, LY SOKIP RC CMM = TOD Aledo Lower

ROY CRY , Wt RRAL

AMSTRAD ACTION JANUARY 1986 13

Now alter its release on the Amstrad, | thought that it would be improved, with the machine's better graphics capabilities. On

jected to the unages and ideas which are portrayed through it, and in tum being hardened to What 1s implied by the action la-

getting the game, I lookec at the | screen shots on the box, ana | thought that aithough the graphics hacin't t improved, the} still looked OR. Sul, when 1 loaced the game Oh dear, oh dear! The pictures on the box were completely different to thte graphics in the game. sottware compares have nc

| Selves, as the Amstrads are cap- able of helluva loi, contrary to stuff around al the moment which seems to say ''so sorry we had to | & rush the conversion’, or such |

ie

king place

should there be an and itso, whatis it?

oiatutory censorship Dasec On cinema ratings ney be one route, albeit impossibly hard to enforce as has been found through the availat videcs for home use. A self requlatory sysier within the soltware incus- try would of course be a more desirable alternative. Bul would software producers be content to develop games without cont inued emphasis on realam? | don't know. Perhaps the more re- sponsible soitware fouses can ake a lead. Anthony Gibbs Peterborough

answer,

istar ie see tleadvariac

) ry: “OL ery: ORO

t 4 ii

muity of

PL ——t

A final note on the subject. LOOK at any US Old advert, anc you Will see Commodore screen | ae

: :

Weare =e 5 es gr h rT BELT D he had Ah iat At ave a

‘Overpriced? lam co mp! lining about the price

‘ang release AMmsirawg

dates of

'

Shady screen-shots I'll skip all the ‘very well done ype comments normally printed

inmagazines, astheytendtogeta bit boring. Well, [think Pll allow |

myself justone, Very well done. Right. With that over it's time

Trade Descriptions Act?

Nick Chaplin

Maidenhead, Berks

I suspect it may be against the Trades Je, sci prong Act, despile

that ry print Saying

Canmmodore 64 version’. . acer in Repke fol 18, af OLS Very n1o- Rien, Pringing ad case against a oftware House for the very rea- Songs you describe, We'll Dong FOU new: swhen we cai

Sho ot the Toot?

Ma ny thi anks for the ce aWeaill ry order for

a copy +

ce esble Afissjon eat jer! ly. (Its

than just a re- furicl). As for your magazine -— | still am not totally freaked out by the stvle of layout or arlWork (though the £jije cover Was ri Whe nice), tul the content is

LW ESOME :

far better iden

F io ed

Software censorship

; | be 8 ra Fe “T 7 1‘ SS SS oe = =a Tr bo hE itl i LAE Tl) Fi a ary te = = i =u he a = r Fr r 1 SS «66S Oeil al Til orb = = = Th = 2 = a ee a Hea S ha ee il i eo Aka a ae a = oT 7 . 1 ee ot ey fa gs 1 is * hk + ah rr, "Tt 1 155 a b =e - ones = Me | a ee Ftd oF =F eS F =" ackno ee J iis .& Le

L : i knw @ fo os ig, i & be Ss Merey he tip of ine

raged wceberg

As computer games have developed, so too have the ex pectahons of the people who buy them. This, quite nghily, hasleda number of Software houses to re- spond by producing games with agrealer sophistication, more in- teresting plot, and visually stunn- ing graphics

Unfortunately, there has been a gr owing trend away from merely Zapping aliens and robots, t wach la more authen fo sCens drios WW WOLVITLE, | Nl SOme

cases wholesale siaughter ol

people, as well asin my view, the |

perverted introduction cf games

D ‘OLE,

panies such as Elite ana 1 Ocean chi irge £2 more for an Amstrad game than 1 Spectrum game il apologise for using such a foul name.) Point 3 Software com- panies rele ase dates are anving Sometimes an A mstra d Omuchi if nat | is réleased about si ixmontha| later

le 1 oe

ae ew +5 le 1s Postpone

SIO wha : Fy A Can Go i QO Pt rod those Torus get Amstrad Elite out as

boys to

(apart from Toot and

Which feature destruction of | blatel i

animals (Paws) a5 an instrinsic part of the game

The lines of distinction be- tween the original imaginary

The one thing (hat constantly itr a1 NO ve annoys me to the point of steam | Siete eet nares coming out of every accessible | Riamaar exit from my body, (thats right, they all look the sam count them!), is so-called reput- Peeve ies | alicri- oriontated gales and the able software houses printing | PMU eee | more realistic recent examples screen shots along with their ad-| [ita i Ween) Arenarrowing

verts, or on the covers of their | ERPS iene Ela B Ean ice ane Will the day come, when as ) games. Nothing wrong with that, | you can get md of that horrid graphics improve even more, hear you say. But think of it like | BRIS isrebsesbon en pttectencian that there is a new wave of | this. Simon Phipps “software-nasties’? Logically, , Long Eaton, Nott ngham the answer musi be 7 yes’

| We all know that having loaded a programme we are about to embark

onadgame, and just that. The pro blem arises not simply from playing the game, but being sub-

AA ae sym Op uup wrth

7 af oe i | Pts copy OF Loa Tehsil 40

. / | to start the complaints |

ae — Tol |

The world of

Along time ago, when a ang | . called ee Computer | Games was at the height of its| fame and sta sdom, nihies (you?) re- Viewed Ghostbusters, which although it wasn'traved over, re ceived avery favourable review

“I DO'S KeOe! WHY YOU PLAY THT slit}

STRIP PCAER GAME = FOU ALWAYS LOSE!"

\

Roy kay, WIRRAL .

14/ANUARY ] 986 AMSTRAD AGTION Good news. bad news

maying to getmy hands: ons fantastic looking game

Hint —a borrowed un ne Grant in Issue No

doesn iad:

Michael] Clark

Newton Grange, Midlothian.

uch

| 4

Amsof set the standard of £8.95 software Fouses fol- fi? you Tein business Charge 4s gin a Price arkal can Dear. To be fair. | MOugn, Many houses do : sess than £8.95 and many com- aS OW fave budget labe: Droducing excel games very low prices. Bur I'm at a !o as [oO @xpiain why an | FF we shoud Sp GCI Gad. wut I still don't understand hunt hint’ business

cnarge

ta ae

ent

at I i ag,

- ir

Amsiraad Oost more {han r=

— Fig me Any offers?

hd,

The price of progress Well done — you not only appear to have maintained the standard of your mag, but dare l say you seem to be improving i The best all-rounder by far. Keep it up 5 ough of ‘th i@ cre i ng and down to th ores ous stuf HotPotato Nol th eae mise of the bb Although I uncerstand the feeling of ri ne 664 owners, with regard to the demise of their par ncular mo del, Icannot help won- dering how many of them have given any thougni to the feelings of those of us (out really wanting a disc ma eninge) 6-c months before the 66-4 Was announced. Unfortunate

It is a fact of c progress is that someone always seems to.gel hurt, donot wish to seem fir pant, but | honestly feel atwith all the Varlousadca-onsin Se market place, plus several very qood tape to disc utilities, il Ls possible iO Gel an immense amount of pleasure out of the 664 at less than the total cost of an “equivalent set up from the Sompention.

As stated | have a CPC 464 pilus all such add ons that I can cop, 1.e@, DDI dise drive, Voice synth, Light pen RS: 232 interface and! dart Te say When lteel the time Is Tign! asideways ROM + RAM expansion. | am beginning wonder if lshould fee! cheated, abused or damaged because | have had to pay to get what I

ranted

Come on 664 owners. You |

ofa good machin for the price ig =.

you paid, or you wouldn't have |

Bought it. In answer ic Ken Swain's let-

ter, both Pride Utlines and Inter-

who bought 454s

lock Services produce Tape to Lise nbhbtes, that have relocate options that work reasonable well and both companies are more than willing to help you with difficult programs Finally are there really two |. Starmer’s who own Arnolds, i.e. the one in the Fist prize winners list and me. If so — ain't it a small world? not, where smy prize? Keep up the qood work Jum Starmer Sutton Coldfield

You have a point. But Mr. Suqaz never said that he wouldn't be introducing a further machine after the 464, whereas he did say that the 6128 wouldn't be re- leased in the UK. What do those aggrieved b64ers think?

icon know how many Star- mers liere are in sution Coifield, but Liope that at least one of them has got lus prize by now

SaaS The Pilgrim t has

gekeso tor Hobpitbuga Ishallstart

with the ayercey eer

AOTTEAT aE

e that is ) An oe Leet

a long time considered myself to be on the pacifist side of the arqu- ment. Yet I retain a fascination

{ both with the machinery of war

and with the conduct of it, Should

| Wellington have won at Water-

loo? Was the KG V or the North Carolina the better solution to the problems of Battleship design in

‘ga | the 1930's?

In conclusion | would much

} rather see the young and im- eH pressionable, | everyone else, playing games|

along with |

so) that require thoughtand concent-

ri iT},

ration, The brain like all other par is of ine body improves with |

oo) use, and I would imagine that de-

ve 5 aan, | Py a | KF . "| fn Veloped brains

| prevent any possible war, than

Will do more to |

fan ability to press a fire button |

Bray faster fy course if oa) man on the fire bution is g

the next man. Off rst comes, the |

Sing to

nan

U } e Wet

come in handy

+. © G Erasmus =| Blackwood, Gwent

| Boris & Brendan

2 ee re Bicsrintvtine th noes ae kare

Ils wor o game?

The morality of playing war- games has been questioned for as long asl have had any interest in them. I have even seen it arqued that while it is OK to play Napoleonic dames (Historical educational simulation) anything post 1940 was war-mongering activity.

Surely the truth is that all games are stylised competition. This being the case, different forms of competition appeal to different people. Chess is no- thing more than an absurd war gare. Does this mean that the world's chess players are some- how comtributing to a heighten- ing of worid tension? To go to the other extreme it could be arqued that war ismerely agame, played by the powerful, for horrendous slakes.

na personal levell have for

In the Jrd of November after buying

remery reli HUSY fate ']

i iter A l

amnere

mapping as] went, and completed the task of blowing up| : mas tyrant fand| nly took me a and . 3/4 |

What]

- shall

computer is

. toe el at eS rol. 'F uk | i

la be Caress |

machine than. dé id the task is HARD

and the|

5. Stephen

UE is Jane nearly all

their £1.99 cames put £10 games

— eet

UO) SiaTie

| Stewart Russell

Glasgow : called Auqustus es nd 7 have two joysticks Boris the (uickshot |] and Brencian the Stick |

a1 reo gt oa | Fra Kes

Whatbad news? AMSTRAD ACTION JANUARY 1986 15

toure the No.! rollerball star, famed for your ability to survive the most deadly

Games. Now you've been taken away from

ine Arena and given anew task thatonly your Skills can cope with

A, jei Carrying.a consignment of Zilithium crystals Nas exploded over an amy testing range scattering them over many miles. The | yatals Are a Vital laclor ina new Space prd- PULSION Gevice anc recovery isessential. The propiem is thal the armues testing of various Weapons has tefi the zone containing most of the crystals ina very dangerous state

Nuclear and conventional weapons have lett the area highly radioactive and scattered with debris. The desert creatures have pecome mutated and the ground has been blasted so many times thatitis unable to sup- port any vehicles, A single Man moving al gn speed and Wearing radiaion protection Might just. be-aGie to negotiate the hazards

‘ . 5 F k 1 cau ei a fl) ates a, Med a Oe el ee ee ee ee = Be a eo _ Loe A i i = 2 SS Py ee oe ee i = Nd =

Theacton takes place against three diferent backgrounds and in a number of stages. On each sage you will face particular problems

- al an

4 - i , - . a a — . . . - ’ a _.4 a — a a. ~< = x . am . “

. == © ‘a a t iJ ! a = bb ay - Ps Y e a 7 ie el - : i a ont . a eo me | = oe ee of | 4 F a 7 ea “i, Se ee — ih 15. = a Make YOU On to Te Nest Secuon;n. iLife crystals Se ways ery ia5.. [00 Call also ] ITD ana = em, aoT ro aT a TIME = ry at) mae Piece Fae F b= ae 4 oes lar A ada 1 yt ee es Strea j a t= kl | 5 ao pedti PES ee ce RES a ce Pe be a eh A eek ek Ge Luce WELLL LS So eS |} ee ee ee Lp e LIS

and to pick themup you just have to skate into when you ré in a ight corner. Vultures ana

them. The difficulty is in avoiding not all the Spinning coms have to be ducked uncer or

other hazards thatappear on the ground sidesteppec while horizontal bars anc other TYoucanskatetothelefiorngnht,although ground objects nave to be jumped over

you have to plan ahead since you don't move Direct hits with a skate or your head-on

ever stuck t0 a Magazine cover?

:

the tape the ather tape. Rewind f hav ae nf the side you wantto load. yo" mimand seh e128 you should type oes ine ys our ar 6 LZ : i : es Si BEA is se the : Cn rroland Emel! een TAP ic press | eallow ine On- CT |

4 nicl tant eit ¥ cs

L oading

Line ALLLy

i Oats ju

f atriitt Tot

JOIN THE NATIONWIDE HIGH-SCORE CHASE! any object on the ground, in the air or a pole the fact that; now have cted of such a am, achieved the m will bring the skater crashing to the ground to lose one of his three’lives. Near misses in- shouldbeabletohavesomefunoverthenext = But this wasn't enough for pub. dicaled by the noige of you brushing by an few months indulging he pleasurak CHRIS ANDERSON who fisted his w object will also gradually build up and are past-time of high-score chasinc weeks of practice) to a black-be indicated by the changing colour ofahelmet | the all-in-one entry form in thi , +46,

in the top left hand corner of the screen. Too i =—s—i«é“«sThe only y

many and you'll die, jal himself was « The game can be joystick or keyboard per scored zero. |

controlled with the “A'’ key or fire button ard «=6kneea

starting the game, The other controls are as ae

follows: tL

DUCE =joystick back or ''Z" key

JUMP = joystick up or "Al! key

LEFT =joystick left or''/"' key

RIGHT = joystick right or," key

PAUSE =0

At the end of a stage you will flick to the score screen. To star! the next stage just move the joystick or Kita movement key.

Your score is determined by how fast you can pick up the crystals on each stage, bul remember itis better to play safe and stay alive than to go for the difficult crystals. Ano- ther thing to watch for is that when a crystal disappears off the screen it will immediately appear at the back againso that youshould be able to spot it arid home in on it.

All the latest action in the world of Amstrad micros

FutureWatch department | | |Cumana,a company specialising —_ babie ‘eegal explodes ‘evgiie. r‘Waslellel jin computer add-ons, has an- (relaining information even with ae nounced whai it calis ‘a radical the computer switched off thanks Hot from the Pilgrim's cleft stick superbly-written text describing breakthrough in information to a DBuiltin thm battery). comes big, big news for lovers of each location and each event. But storage media to be n =e avail- Alternatively it could be used by big, big adventures. The Infocom they hove a remarkable ability to able on the Amstrad micros. It software houses instead of disks programs ore being released on moke sense of and respond comes inthe form ofa cr edil-card or casseties as a new format for Amstrad. appropriately to your keyboard sized pieceofplaticcontainingan selling software. It would be If that doesn't have you inputs. So much so, that you can integrated circuitchip whichcan much harder then to pirate the hopping up and down with easily forget it’s o computer slore up 10 L2nk of infornna on soliware. - excitement it must be because: a) you're talking to. The ‘Astron’ card is used by Prices for the adaptor and you don't hove a disk drive — these The programs being Ins€ ohne itinto a cheap adaptor cards are not available yet, but programs, being massive, canonly released are Zork |, Nand il, Sea- which plugs into the backof your short-term they're unlikely to be run on disk, b) you can't afford to Stalker, Planetfall and Reodliine micro ). Durable, ight-weightand significantly cheaper or more poy £20 for a program, because all on disk oft £19.95. Their lotest pot tially very cheap, it could effective than using 4 disk drive that’s how much they'll cost, or c) smosh hit Hitchhikers Guide to the be used instead of a disk drive However with several oiher com- you don't know what's special! Galaxy will cost you £24.95. IF it's =. panes WOrki ig on similar Sheng about Infocom adventures. any comfort, these prices are a lot : | bE eeasd ennact ih ; | What's specialaboutthemis lower than people pay for these | | PSEA ay IE See Le that more than any other games in the United States. ay adventuresyou're able to interact The programs are being with the computer in remarkable distributed by Softsel, Standby detail. The programs contain no for o feature From the Pilgrim next graphics at all—just reams of issue.

ae he ee Pe a oe Po a eur er

3new from Ultimate

ya

a ea

pean eon =]

ee ciaecttnatata os satel rs ee Pits ee

ices MP ae meanest

Three new games are being re- leased for the Christmas market by Ultimate Play the Game, the people behind the top selling Knight Lore and Alien &. First out is Nightshade, already available on the Spectrum, although the Amstrad version is said to be ‘an- hanced’. This is being followed by Gunfight and Cyberun, the second of which appears to be the game Ultimate are placing =3-5 most hopes on. Attime of goingto Ss press we have no further details a on these programs — Ultimate are famed for playing their cards close to their chests- but we hope to print reviews next time.

. A io a 4 4 ee Se eet = ‘a

I8JANUARY 1986 AMSTRAD ACTION where it'sa

AMSTKAD CPC 464

é > 2 _ © 2 ; aE i: ro ; aE molt: f a | 4 i « |. ed ae i Any z "gd L 4 iq wi 4 r) Fi F, ( " @ ' f ~ su ' " f * F ee

DEAD “ALIVE

‘ULTIMATE PLAY THE GAME!

“CYBERUN”, “GUNFRIGHT”, “NIGHTSHADE” recommended retail price £9.95 inc VAT. Available from W.H.SMITHS, BOOTS, J.MENZIES, WOOLWORTHS and all good software retail outlets. Also available from ULTIMATE PLAY THE GAME, The Green, Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Leicestershire LEG 5JU (P&P are included) Tel: 0530 411485

SOR Y aiveesa

PLAY THE GAME.

f

Cr a |

Amstrad have been trying to play down the significance of repor ted shortages of the 3° disks which are used on Amstrad mi- cros. One senior company fiqure told us ‘The whole thing’ 5 heen biown up out of all proportion He said a sudden surge in de- mand for the disks by software houses had caused a slight tem- porary shortage. but that these were nola major problem

The shortage, temporary or otherwise, has caused some dis- iriouters problems in obtaining disk versions of Amsirad games

even those from Amsofit ihem- selves, Cyrus 2 Chess for example wasin very shortsupply curing most of October and Nov-

ember

Since no other micros use

the disks, software houses a others who need to buy up large numbers of them fox have to. rely on suppl 1é5 IMpor- lex d from the Far E East by Amstrad themselves. The company ap pears to have been caught out by unexpected demand inthe Caris- tmas runup, withsoftware houses suddenly realis ing that sales of

dup: ication

the CPC6128 were cpening up a hucye new market

Sneak peek Monty on the Aun from ¢ remilin OT raph ics has appeared but sofar only in demo form. Our copy shows all the rooms dnd nasties revealingaverytricky set ofpiat [orm screens

There's some qreat music to accompany the qame and this was in fullevidence on the demo

as Monty leaped around some un moving stréengs that should

spring to lite on the final version Monty i¢ of course running from the law and needs to select the right items in his freeclom kit to get away on the cross channel ferry, Hopefully we'll have a full review in the next issue but if you

see |tlirstit willcost 43.95 on cass- ete to beat us toit We've also cast 4 passing

glance over Kokotom Wilf which also arrived in unfinished form but by next month crate be Te- yiewabie. [t stars a winged hero collecting amulets in different time zones. Having a good flap will cost £8.95 on cassette and £14.95 on disk

The situation wasn't helped when one cons mment of 60 000 disks was

sealed conta they came ¢

ite ruined. "We

hipped in a badly uner, Apparently Ul Gripping wet and driea them out But they still wouldn't work.’ com-

mented an Amstrad execitive

the programmer of the. chart-— VA topping Mastertronic programa [-3 Sse detany and Soul ofa |

| Rober.

“They're his first big hits in

two and a half years of ‘pro-

frm oy Nonterraquec | = Avenging Droid. -

: Baby. ‘Computer: ‘Games. wae “Jaunched a range of budget sof- ware: for the Amstrad, mostof it. -—oonsisnna: of versions of arcade Classics. The titles: which sellfor £1-S9" each, include: Tie noe : (Hunchback), Jumpman {Q*Bert), ie Wriggier (Centipede) and Zero ieee ieee Roe oS mast i

BRBEREREB EE ae e

y'sbables _

Software Database | A new software Gatabase for Amstrad users is being -estati- lished inthe north-east. The aim of the: Amstrad User Sofware

_ Datahase is to provide ‘free pub-

lic domain software’ contributed

by users. Amstrad owners from

beginners to profesionais have

been involved in setting up the organisation

‘is sa tear cue wscejuns ton ores stehantine lk required. The Goatees os ccutee you

ee a planet offering. eatety from’ the

The gama will be followed

time.

18 4, Vect = the |

oe Stephan, who inhabits a flat | vee ‘in Pontypridd, South Wales, puts | of down the succeas of his latest |

. games to the fact that he'd spent j DS esi more time than usual in|

that Our iniaal Sones ae jase titles haart been too peng They’ re nowhere near toe Stan:

Standby: for: reviews net

Pet mgs es ee]

The AUSDisa non-profit t mia-

| king venture, but acharge willbe |

made for tha supply of software. This seems likely to be €2.75 for

tape and £5,590 for disc -or-f2 if |

you supply your own blank disc. Programs should be ‘avail- able from the: j new year, For more details, send a SAE to: AUSD, PO Box 11, G forth, © Newcastie- sen NES IRP

Page Making Software

Amx — mokers of the Mouse — and

Mirrorsoft are both set fo release | software in the new year which will | allow Amstrad owners to do page |

moke-up for magazines on-screen. The programs will allow users to move text around on screen and create graphics displays. It will t hen be possible to print out the whole lot. Special features on Mirrorsoft's Fleet Street Edifor will include oa graphics library of around 600 images that users will be able to incorporate in their fin-

ished product. AMX's Page Maker will be used in conjunction with thte Mouse and will feature o digitiser allowing you to transfer photos to the screen ond then blow-up parti-

cular sections.

Both programs should be ovailoble around February/March, But they won't come cheap: Fleet Street Editor will weigh in at £39.95 on disc, while Page Maker will cost E49.95.

20 JANUARY 1986 AMSTRAD ACTION ‘thie amatiehor

+ of the |

“The only fully professional word

processor

on the

Amstrad”

Amstrad Action,October 1985

The new Pocket WordStar is so professional Amstrad Action helped us to write this advertisement — with their appreciation of the latest word | processor product from the WordStar range the most popular word processing packages in the world.

Read some of the other things they said:

“Pocket WordStar is for people who regularly have to sit (ong hours at a Keyboard...”

“The designers have taken great care to make things as easy as possible, The manual is superb, clearly written and weil cross- referenced”

Any reformatting required can take place instantly. This one fact alone is enough to ensure that Amstrad Action’s writing team is now transferring to WordStar”.

| TAKE YOUR CUE FROM AMSTRAD ACTION AND PICK POCKET WORDSTAR

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION AND YOUR LOCAL

: STOCKIST, CONTACT THE SOLE DISTRIBUTORS

CUMANA ON 0483 503121

onty LENG ic var

MicroPro International Ltd, Haygarth House, 264) High Street, Wimbledon Village, London SW19 SHY

Specifications

Vale eo ; SY = Fa Ard ») rae ae es Operating System: ke VE DEST, a ae

CP/M 2.0 or higher as CPU Memory: 56K of RAM j is required

Pocket WordStar can operate with one disk drive containing at least 120K.

RARE A

(fea ae

re ote, ee ‘: ie

en eee Re eee

Spreadsheets are for account- anis, are very expensive and are difficult to use. “Thisis the opinion of many micro users, and prob- ably of a few readers of Amstrad Action. This is a shame, because none of it's true.

There are plenty of uses fora spreadsheet in the home, any of which can make learning how to use one very worthwhile. Here are justa few: > Budgetting — trying to keep track of where the money goes. > Buying - making the best choice when buying hi- fi/car;wWashing machine.

» Investing -— keeping track of your ten shares in BT.

» Assessing - deciding which insurance /mortgage/savings

| plan gives the best deal.

o_o

eee tee ae ea al = 1

sae aaa aaa ese eae Napa ae,

as JANUARY 1986 AMSTRAD ACTION ascites 376

® Predicting — trying to decide if Alan Sugar will ‘upgrade’ your new Amstrad micro within the next two weeks!

Take buying a new car, for instance. How would you decide which make and model to go for? You'd probably start by deciding how much you could afford, and checking all the models which fall Within your price range. You might look at special features such as radios or heated

| windows. You'd be likely to com- | pare the fuel consumptions and

ay -aVer

wa How spreadsheets can buy you acar

sheet of squared paper, much

| hike arithmetic exercise books at

ae * ce F eee atthe aah oe

school. Unlike an exercise book, though, each square (or ‘cell’ as they re called in a spreadsheet) can hold a whole number or word. You can enter numbers and headings into the cells of the spreadsheet and define relation- ships between cells. f you have two numbers if two different cells you can define another cell to dis- play the sum of the two. Ifyou look at the sample spreadsheet dis- play, you can see the names of

4e( 20=(e=3)-(r=2) ) *650¢r 19e8 +(e -

ji:

eatery! i " P a as c=" F — — ae Sect Me ce eh a cl ey, aes ‘ I + S ea 7 7 tee aa ee ee i r . ee ete ta, gM ee af tt = J , 5 oO roa — " "i : Senna F . Pa _ cone is ue al a Reel ; F 1 se . = Saat Seor ) ni “Er

| the

in at the start of each row. and a

few @xtra numbers, used in the '

calculations, are put in at the bot- tom of the sheet

Now you Can start to type in prices, MP.G.s, service in- tervals and average costs of spares. Most of these § oqures are avalable from the showroom leaflets, or any of the motoring

magazines. In tis partcular example, everything has been

Worked out in terms of cost. The Tuning costs are the costs of pet- rol and serv! over 10000

Mest, I oa | the cost of spares and servicing. seven cars typed in as headings | miles; what you might co in a Having done all this, you'd | to the columns of figures. The | year Spareaa costs are best have to juggle with the figures to | various costcategoriesaretyped | worked out by pricinga few stan- try and arrive ata ‘Best Buy’. This ! kind of number juggling is just =—_ - - what a spreadsheet is desiqned for. Let's build up a spreadsheet Selecting » new car for AMSTRAD aAcTION for buying 4 car. ; ; ‘ 2 A spreadsheet can best be , | : : H | Frag HerhiA Stalwart Blesifn | |6TevRe Eee Lirua As gem i | thought of as a large electronic 2 Foaster Metro Rambo Fairy fine Weete fanta | ; | Price S70.00 $490.00 6200,605 8895.06 ei% ‘a4 1560, 00 5 m.F.G. 43.09 $6.00 47.00 44,00 ae 47.00 & Caat/ )] 000001 433,32 364, 29 434,04 483,684 44,48 i 434,08 7 Serv Period 4600.00 6000.00 5000,00 DAA & Ltt Pa *. | @ ferv/1000Ge1 150,00 1.33 10.0 52.50 100 3 ? Sparee cost a6, Of 4}, Of 56,00) a a. BO om 2€ 11 fotel Comte 6489.32 $803.29 6690.04 Cate. 64 SO80.48 6732.31 6068.04 ———_— 12 I a. 13 Features 4.00 7,09 4. 6.00 5.00 —. ae FE i4 Appeal 5.00 6.05 4.00 4.0 Ss = ees Oe Ae» aS ge —— 14 era Bi 16 Gverall Cost 12989.33 10453,39 14490.04 11008. da 6.48 1192.31 12008.04 : ” i > & 19 Metrol frice per Gal >, Oa Feateres a6¢ Aooeel Meignhting 1.06 70 Caogt of Service [Aw 55). O10 a a e = Lskoooo/te=1)"cIrl9 ; eis, Pe = «43: 0000/(r-1)*r20e2 " Tee, a Ss{r=7)e(reS)+(0e-2)

Various toolkit programs and the new Tas-Spell.

dard units such as radiators or alternators.

The petrol cost per 10000 miles is worked out a5) 10000/MLP.G.xthe costofa gallon | of petrol. Each ofthe cellsinrow6 of the spreadsheet uses formula l. This formula takes the M.P.G.

weighting factor is taken into ac-

r18c8. As you can see, the Morbid

come out tops. The valuable thing about a

set it up, you can alter any of the

figure from the cell in the previ- | figures and see at a glance what ous row (r-1) and the petrol price | effectit will have on all the others. from cell c3r19 (the cell atthe in- | Inthisexample you could chance |

tersection of row 19 and column 3). Each cell in the spreadsheet is referred to like this.

The service cost is worked out in a similar way, by dividing 10000 miles by the service period and multiplying by the average cost of a service. This is done in formula 2.

The total cost is calculated in formula 3 by adding together the | price, petrol costs and service costs for cach car. The results are ‘putin the cells in row 11.

When you are making an im- | portant decision, like buying a | new car, there are bound to be factors like design and special | features which aren't normally | found.as figures. You can still inc- | lude these factors in your deci- | sion, however, by scoring each car out of 10 in the ‘appeal’ categories, and then weighting | their importance against the cost | factors. The scores out of 10 are

the price or M.P.G. of a car and

immediately see if it affects your decision. If you decide the cost factors should have more weight you simply alter one value (in r19c8) and the whole sheet can be

put in the cells in rows 13. and 14, | recalculated automatically. and the weighting and final cal- | Trying doing that with pencil, culation is done by formula4. The | paper and pocket calculator!

MASTERCALC 128

For the CPC 6128, Campbell Software Desiqn/ Amsoit, £34.30 disk

: as ee Nears on ona Bea aaa gO eae a eae hake = Nr = oe =a ie oe oe

7 Pe

SA tt gE a ae tL Ta eT eS eae a eS CS ca Wate Cem ‘at a om, a a a he cat A een “als 2S eed ty ee oh ISTE rpg noe ee nce gene See

Until recently the two main spreadsheet programs available for | Amstrad computers were the original Mastercalc and the rather | unwieldy Microspread from Amsoft. Mastercale 128 is a new, im- proved version of the CPC 464/664 program, which makes use of the extra banked memory of the 6128 to offer a maximum spreadsheet of 7000 cells, or asheet 80 rows by 80 columns. Thisis | over twice as big as the original Mastercalc could support, The | program runs under AMSDOS like their database program Mas- | terfile. There's a CPC 6128 version of that available, too. | When you first load the program, you're presented with a small menu which covers filing, cataloging your dises and cus- tomising the colour-scheme of the display. Mastercalc will run in | 40 or 80 column modes, but you really need 80 columns to seé a decent amount of your sheet. | When you setup a new sheet you're given the option of | defining the number of rows and columns you want fo use. You should try and estimate roughly the size and shape of the sheet you'll need, although if you get itwrong you canadd extra rows or .columns later on, Not so with Microspread, where the size of the | sheetis fixed, | The spreadsheet itself consists of cell co-ordinates along the top and down the left-hand side of the screen, and both rows and | columns are marked from | upwards. Column | 1s wider than the others to allow for the row headings, Dut the width of any column

This month we devote these incredibly sober, important and user- iriendly pages to a major feature on spreadsheets, plus reviews of

count using the value of cell

Retro and Missin Fairy seem to |

spreadsheet is that, once you've |

| code and have more than sufficient precision for the mad scientist

may be adjusted individually. It's more usual, and less confusing,

to label one of the axes from A to Z, then AA to AZ etc. In practice. |

using numbers for both isnot too difficult to get used to, though.

Atthe bottom of the screenisasingle commentline, where the |

program displays any messages, and where your commands are |

echoed. The norma! message reminds you how to display the |

‘help’ screen, which details all Mastercalc's commands. Mastercalc uses a rectangular block in inverse video as a

| cursor, which you can move around the spreadsheet using the | cursor keys. If the spreadsheet is too largé to fit completely into a |

mode 2screen, the screenactsasa window’ onto the sheetand can be moved around it using the cursor keys with <SHIFT>. This movement is very smooth and fast, and the screen is redrawn quickly.

To enter textinto a cell yousiumply move the cursor tothatcell, type <""> to siqnal a text entry, and type away. Mastercalc allows you fo type across the boundaries between cells, as long as sub- sequent cells are empty. You complete the entry by pressing <RETURN=.

Entering numbers is even easier. You move the cursor to the required cell and type in the number, again pressing <RETURN=> at the end. If you're entering a series of numbers in a row or column, you can set Mastercalc to move automatically to the adja- cent cell each ime you press <RETURN>

Mest of Mastercalc’s features are called by pressing a letter key, either onitsownorwith<CTRL>. When you come to putin the formulae on your sheet, you start by pressing <CTRL=F, which brings up a prompt offering ‘New/Amend/Erase’. Having selec- | ted your option you type in the formula. |

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Trousers are doun agains but mocks ake aur atecking trads, Tommente: Gur alegan ‘Let Bortrae gulf yout waan't # quel investment.

Printout of sprecedsheet from Mostercale 128

Atypical formula might be ‘(c3+ c4)*2". This would mean ‘the |} gum of column 3 and column 4, multiplied by 2’. The observant}

among you might say ‘but which row does this refer to?’. The

answer is whichever row the cursor is lying in. You can use the]

same formula in many cells in your spreadsheet, and Maastercalc} will work out the right cell references. Microspread also uses the | idea of ‘portable’ formulae, but Microspread’s can only refer toa maximum of two cells. With Mastercalc you are only hmited to a maximum of 75 characters per formula, You can also have up to 99 formulae, many more than with Microspread |

Mastercaic allows you to reference cells relatively, as well as| by their row and column numbers. This means you can refer, for | instance, to tha cell two columns to the right (c+ 2) or three rows

above {r-3i the current one. This ability is particularly useful when |

calculating compound interest or running totals and is a distinct|

improvement over the original 464/664 version of the program. Mastercalc only allows the four arithmetic operators + ,-,*

and / and brackets to control the order of calculation. Althouch it's|

possible to manipulate the cells of a Masterfile spreadsheet from | BASIC, it would still be useful to be able to directly calculate such |

things as maximums and minimums for a range of cells. The program works at much higher precision than BASIC All the arithmetic functions are separately programmed in machine-

what AMSTRAD ACTION JANUARY 198625

at

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“What makes the game is the graphics — large, witty, bizarre and beautifully animated... each screen has something remarkable, and horribly difficult puzzles ... Dynamite Dan is not just another Miner surrogate < and is at least as essential to your collection.” Popular Computing Weekly.

48K Spectrum/Spectrum+ £6.95

Maxwell House, Worship Street, London EC2A 2EN. Tel 01-377 4600 Trade orders to: Purnell Book Centre, Paulton, Bristol BS18 5LQ. Tel 0761 413301

T fanatical auditor fost spreadsheets allow you to replicate (the American word ine same tormula into a row or column of cells automati- 1 lasteri rile doesn tde this, butdoes allow you touseatform o! | shorthand which is nearly as quick Where fastens really scores over Microspread, and most other spreadsheets, is its ability to divide the screen into two halves and display different sections of the spreadsheet in each if. This means you can look at two completely separate areas of Ir model atthe same time, and flip the cursor between thetwoto odify iqures ortitles. Very handy Masterfile can also plot bar charts from the numbers in the sheet, You simply select the rows or columns you wish to plot, and the histograms are drawn in the bottom half of the screen. If you have an Epson or Star printer, you can take a high-res dump of the Screen Whichever printer you have, you can print out sections of a spreadsheet, and send escape codes to enable special print fea- tures, [his is usefulif you have a printer capable of printing more than 80 columns across the page, as you can then print larger echons of big spreadsheets The manual is the photo-copied, dot-matrix affair offered with the original Mastercalc, and includes both tutorial and reference sections. The extra features offered by Mastercale 128 are in- cluded ina textfile on disc, andmay be displayed or printed outby selecting an option from within the program. Campbell claim to | have done this to keep down costs. I'm sure it does, but still feel you Te entitled to a full manual for the program you buy. Master- calc isa well-written, professional program, which works quickly ur wie iifers many us Seba telseeretate m surprised Campbell Software icin t include some oes y statist ical functions, but then, for many uses, they wouldn't be1 eed ed, Well worth the money,

G 0 0 pS” N E W 5

> Fast, big (up to 7000 cells) and easy to use.

» High precision. Can display numbers upto 9,999,999,999,999,999 (whew!)

» Graphics capability. Can represent figures as bar charts. » Split screen display. Can show two parts ofa spreadsheet atonce.

i: Roe D a Wiss ae

» Can only use simple arithmetic functions + ,-,* and /.

» Can't replicate formulae automatically.

iSUPERCALC 2

For CPC S1es or PCW 8256, from Amsoft/Sorcim, £49.95 disk

Stee See meme cc rae

Esra ee ser ote ents ee

Ae Mastercalc |2t is leaps ahead of Microspread, so Supercale 2 ote more than Mastercalc, Supercaic is one of the original

| DUSINGSS spre ae programs which has been updated | through a mumber of different versions before the second edition supercale z Amsot | have done a deal with Sormm, the US pro-

| ducersoithe program. to offer itat49.95, rather than itsmore usual

riceorgZo0+ Amstrad’sarqumentrums lke this’ You can't expect

| your average truck driver to pay more for one piece of software than he (she?) did for the computer’. A fair point. And so the

j Se beneficial de:

tel tl eed

arr tr. <a of We ici bi i

: r this money is not a cut-down version of the | program, Dut one specially tallo red to the workings of the CPC 6128. The full prog: ogether with the installation rout- ines and se -veral sample spreadshe: etsfor youto play around with. The documentation is the original Sorcim text as well; very well produced and with plenty of Ulustrations and coloured high-

lighting, The mani al consists ofa full reference Be excel lent

ain is ther = Slee

| proved its

ten niinute’ tutorial and a quick reference "Answer Card’. There's so much of it that it only just fits into one of Amsoft's A4 binders.

supercalc ¢ runs under CP/M where over a million users have effectiveness, The program offers a maximum spreadsheet size of 16000 calls, with up to 63 columns and 254 rows. In practice you'd probably run out ofmemory space before filling all thes S,andit's hard to think ofmany applications that would use that size ‘of sheet anyway.

The spreadsheet screen looks similar to Mastercalc 1258's except that ine. columns are labelled A, B, C, etc and there are three status lines at the bottom of the screen, rather than Mastercalc’s one.

a ceall

Ji SOURPEREALT WERREAERT ~

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» Sample toreadsheet produced on Supercale 2

These lines are not there for effect, either, as each one shows useful information all the time. The bottom line echoes the com- mands and formulae youtypefromt he keyboard. The next line up gives various information, including column width setting, a ‘Help’ message and the remaining memory available The third row shows the contents, formatand co-ordinales of the current cell (the | one with the cursor init}.Supercale2 offerscopioushelp messages | for almost every comm bene Or action you can make. Combined | with the aaa alerence card, it's easy to get the hang ofthe basic controls, and you can a qd extra commands to your repertoire as neeced Where be ercale 2 really scores over Mastercalc | 28 1s in its range of commands, and techniques for applying them. As wellas the norma Varihmetioand logical operators (<, >, <> etc), Super- cale 4 offers direct calculation of percentages and powers, as well as trigonometric functions, averages. Maximums, minimums, roots, sums and ‘lookup’. This last function looks up a value in one row or column and reads off an equivalent value from another; very useful if you want to build a convergion table into your sheet. supercale cells aré refered to by their co-ordinates, as with Mastercalc, sothe top, left-hand cellis Al, ancthe bottomrightona full-sized sheet is BK254, To save effort when entering repetitive hiqures, you can replicate a number from one cell, or range of cells, to another range. This system is ve ery simple and effective to | use, asisoupercalc sabilily to repeat atex ct character acrossa row of cells, which considerably speeds line drawing. Values can be referedtorelatively ora ¥ The screen canbe splitto show two sections of a spreadsheet ate with Mastercalc, but Supercalec can split the screen horizontally or vertically, and change the size of each half Loading, saving and printing all or part of a spreadsheet are

lalrelh vie

CONCLUSION ry m uch a question Mastercalc 134 nee ed for your toreccs 96 jn business, though, oril pipiens a spreadsheet, then pay a be one of the best bargains on

ou pays your money a ast spread: sheet, sere sting and peyote cep -iteuyee youhave 4 lot

Overall, itis ve takes your choice’

may well be all you beat

uses for ic Z. it must

usind you! Gu Y scpenhhc

you re of financial © 615 and go tor Superca

the Amstrad this yeas.

Voreprung durch techni JANUARY 1986 AMSTRAD ACTION @7

| simple operations, and other programs, such

you can transter data from Supercaic to as word processors like Wordstar.

a)06UC eee i - FS ws

» Very big (theoretically up to 16000 cells) and very powerful. » Many useful maths facilities, including MAX,MIN and

LOOKTP. > Plenty of ‘help’ screens and excellent manual.

“ae D 5. “me Ww :

» Nota lot. But you might find even the reduced price out of your range.

Keyboard whizz-kid PATRICK MCDONALD casts his eye (and fingers) over a aelalel-me)melaete celui iire mole) diem el minl-Mal-a yay ol-1i [isle merle. <cmicoluimkeluilelse

‘UTOPIA teem

Arnor, £79.95 ROM

fe. ape ae or “a a -Sares a e 4 oma en ee ee An patents GARE anne cov Ee rr a emi SUT ice Nh Recent

2 ee ees ee le ae ee che a = a he ee ot ss r Cig ae = Saale rhe =

This is similar in many ways to Superpower s of around 40 KS's | different

There are two main groups of new commands: file-relate: commands that deal with the drive (assum

s offering, consisting However, the layout of commands is totally

bo

tape recorder or disc

ing you have one fitted to your Amstrad); and programming it structions that diagnose just what your program is doing T here

“TT Tr - i a Oe) aes i= ee ee if Led ncs Ve we Le Ls LI} i re | =

are very few ct that do not play around with files in some

LI na, bs = eT 7. a ee sa Fh ie — be

understood to mean a list of data coming from or going t some- where outside the computer. The fle-handling commands are very comprehensive. They include many of the cise utilities that usually need to be loaded from a system disc. There.are also

commands tc dump memory to ASCI files. to verify AS! and instructions to send data ff om t the screen to a file, p!

very uselul co

Mmimnancs

THE ASG hm LA

UTOPIA

racy me

(el) nae

AMSTRAD CAC464 CPeib4 6 CRI 26

miming routines describe such things

The c Jat ee ste = as; What arrays have been set up. and how big they are: what

functions have been a list of vanables and command. It also has Fi ind Replace fun

blocks of BASIC

defined, and where they were created. In fact, 1 their values can be called up with just one ‘CHoOns, and you Can move C program around with it ao are two editors

eo |ANUARY 1986 AMSTRAD ACTION pu od 1 SA TLL

disc. Avery useful utili

| » Manual is for the more technically-minded.

| through a document finding one word and replacing it with ano-

available —DEDIT, which isa disc editor and MEDIT, which is a | memory editor. DEDIT reads data off the the disc, lets you ecit it | and then puts the edited version pack ; where it came [rom on the

ty this, since it will even unerase accidently wiped files.

With MEDIT , you can scan thi ry. perhaps looking for a partic sHlar messace. You can Change any part of the Random

Access Memory With it, 80 it w iid probably De of more use toa

i —s = i ae Mi pe ee Ff One Dracrar e ye sm a. Le | ee ee ee ee ee ee | is ae | fit .t Sh jo 0 Bag hy 1

» Large amount of disc-related commands.

» Cheaper than Superpower's.

» Disable facility means it will not interfere with other ROM chips.

» Less attractive to 464 users » No graphics commands e.g. FILL, CIRCLE etc.

PROGRAMMER’S TOOLBOX and BASIC EXTENSIONS

superpower, £79. 95 ROM, CPC 464 only

‘ry = sur — a a | ii (ta i er Pe pre rh) ext SOIT LT ear eS

and uhlities, a SA'S (Resident Systems Extensions) and so need a bar }prehx, e.g. | FRAME. The commands are arranged in four different categories of which the first is the actual writing and de-bugging commands to help you to find errors in your own programs. Particularly useful among these is the find/repl ace command, which will search through listings in much the same Way asa word processor will go

ther. Other useful commands include one to trace the program currently running to the printer The second group of commands comprises those missing from 464 BASIC but which are present in BASIC V1.1. A program written on a 664 or 6128 (so long as it does nol use too much memory) is fairly easy to translate to the 464 with these commands. | However, since a program written with these RSX's will not work on a 664 or a 6126 until all the bar ("'|'') prefixes have been re- moved they are not quite the complete answer to the compatibility problem.

The ROM also contains some commands which do not exist in any form of Locomotive BASIC. These include two dump routines which take the graphics screen and dump it to either an Amstrad or an Epson printer. (An extra command, | PRINTER , selects the printer type). The problem with these commands is that if you write a program containing them, nobody else can use thal program because their machines will not be able to handle the extra commands

The last group of commands features design programs These include a character generator and an envelope tester, and are very useful as they produce BASIC Program lines when you have finished designing. You can then put those BASIC lines in your own program, and they will recreate the sound. Much better | than trial and error to find the right sound or character shape.

| Locomotive BASIC then you can master these with a little effort.

» Wide range of extra commands; it’s likely you will find something that will help you.

» The manual is well written, explaining things very clearly.

» No facility to save commands, so other people cannot use | your programs unless they have a copy of this ROM.

| All the routines are well designed. The screen layouts are | very good and fairly easy to qrasp. If you feel at ease with most of |

ODDJOB

Prode Utilitees, E12.95 dise

2 a = Os ee es en ee - a me ae ‘= See Te OR eae st ae ee ee a

fessional job, The dise supplies eight different easy-to-use rout- ines of interest to anu Amstrad owner witha dise drive.

The hirstisa program called DIREDIT, which stands for Direc- tory Editor, With this it is very easy to unerase dises, to rename | programs. to search for hidden programs, and to generally run riot with the directory ofa disc. FASTFORM, the seconf program, will format a disc something like three to four times faster than the | CPM program FORMAT

Probably the most widely used of all these programs — and probabay for all the wrong reasons— will be DISCLONE. This will produce a perfect copy cof any disc for the Amstrad. More than slightly useful to pirates ? Not entirely, since a clone ofa protected disc is sill protected — you'd have to have a utility like this one to Copy itagain

The fourth and fifth programs are meant to be used together. DISCMAP says which sectors a file is occupying on the disc. With SECTEDIT, you can then edit the sectors indicated by DISCMAP

DISCTAPE takes a file off a disc and records it onto tape. You would use it if you had written a program on disc, and you wanted to produce a tape version

» If you just want a Toolkit for your disc drive, this is

| probably the one to go for.

| » Supplied on disc, it does not need a ROM card expansion. » Good value for money.

» Only eight routines supplied. _» No routines to use in your own programs.

working speed of the dise drive by 20 “o, ltmeedsno RAM space to work, and will continue working until the drive is reset again. REMPEO is a program that could lead many disc drive

| indicates another : illegal usage, either for hacking or theft.

| “This program must not be used to infringe copyright laws”.

Don't be fooled by the name — this program is certainly a pro-|

|

A rather special program is SPEEDISC. This increases the |

ownertwsinto great temptaion. It simply removes protection from | a disc. Back up copying a discis one thing, but protection removal |

No manual is provided, but there isan extra option — option 9, | HELP - which describes each program and its use. It also states |

AMSTRAD ACTION JANUARY 1986 29

‘ r J i Ci 5 x Ce aos eee ats” at a ‘1 2 8 J rat . see i . i : = a : “rh teats "" om anata a = snaat mate ee ee Sateletatetatataeletelatate = ie, = oon Ly ee i a ee / eee : ‘nm ma 4

. : 1 2a ne in ia on n en a ity en sen rs a at, i Secicereraene , i = . ! a - = : : es ae - a &

eee ee ee ee ee ee aE i om aie ae a oa ata at at a ea

ae “= 7 x " an . : aints Cj ‘ : i aes apy eT iam ne a oir i. +, im a ett - atatetntetetata c. a aeatancntan site a! ees “ ee om in =i sreieieanatetinans * 8 ne L) hl atts * aatatats one a

GUALITY BUSINESS SOFTWARE FOR THE AMSTRAD CPC MACHINES

= —- ee. es ee. ee ee eee ee ee ee et ee eee ee ee ee ee ee ee a nn — SS SS Ee EE a2 SF SF 8 SE SS SES SS ee ee ee eee ee ee eee ee eee ee a ee es a ee ee ee

MASTERCALC: Spreadsheet program with 3,000 celis, WASTERFILE 128 offers 24% fiie, integral cate excart, Wariable column forgets, clever for@iige, ‘uitra fast user file OTGLESSiNng, afd file sarge, (fo need tor APE: anc «ofriendiy. “Accouplisnes gore in RAR than eyeexse NERO dit oy disc...apother exceptional utility MASTERCALC 128 offers 7,01 cells. extra foraula fron Caapbel] for the i{f70) Asstrad sachines’. functions: conditionai teres, anc relative cell | references, (No need for Mui!

Featured in their Aastrad s TV advertising - te

If vou already fave SADTERFILE fad; HASTERCALE, YES we MASTERFILE: The complete filing/retrieval systes, offer UPDATES: c2il us for detaris: and YES vour lc ultra fast ane fiexibie, ea cupstion the best files will iaad into the new *iZd™ egitions. ReSeB eae i in ever seen. iBoth quotes from Popuiar :

LOMDUEING WEERLy.) 7 Prices tepe / G1SC

MASTERFILE EXTENSIONS (MPX}: Lets vou send data te MASTERFILE 458......0.000+-f21,25 7 E20. 8S | TASWORG or other programs, and orncess your date MASTERFILE ¢ MPR weceecese f2.09 f £29.79 | directiy in Basic, MOCTEREILE t2H fice ORivi weeecees Loe. MASTERCALC EXTENSIONS {MCX}: Extends MASTERCALC just MASTERCALC ccscseeneeesesssdeleda j £22.40 ac FFY extends MASTERFILE, Rae FERUALL * NED cacceeseen Ldbed ( hevere | MASTEREALE $70 tfisc orl¥) eccacees Sees To For CPCA129- or RAN-Extendced 464/664: MPY of HEY aglone@.ecccuseaverta. od f £15,99

SD@Clai high-capacity editions are sow ready which se

i: 7 —_— ay in -n4 D809 45 sauehs optieised epgory bank-switching.......fead on ----- } Prices include Val ang foP to afywhe wa enn en nn ne eneeeneess=--= oo ypur checue geyable to “Casopell ove

telephone yo LE} roa Care

Campbell Systems (Dept AA) 57 Trap’s Hill Loughton . Essex IGIO ITD England Tel: 01-508 5058

rar ahi

‘AMSTRAD.

* including a Spelling Check routine!

introduction —— =

Brunword i¢ now available for the Amstrad a

computer with many enhancerents ond mer | Ares = Woerdproossso ————

features. The programme is really two pra

Grates In One = 2 POvwertul wor dprocessor | Thies is Gesegrad to be easy to Use. Gasy TO learn and yet

woreda fat sep ing Lert pecage dernier ee COMPChensivG WOrprocagaor

DOiac Version The text editor utes the CLA and DEL sey as norma! and the

Gpelling Check ——— Cursor keys with SHIFT and CTAL orovete full curser contral,

Nhs arranged forease of use with any Amatrad | Ot Onve 2G AUTOMaAtaCal hy adjusts The meinory for the best ute. Suplied with 6000 words a heady if the dectionary (expandable ta 10.000) | which allows 8 paepes of textto bein the menor, |

A section of manor © allecated to the diction. | Even though the exact print format can te seen in the 80 ary containing up to 700K) words, At the sane column mode (and edited in the disc version) “Brunning hme about / paged of text can be stored in The) Software” have designed 4 unnque formatting roupne, which wartor file afed, As the dictionary in RARE LPs | by anierineg teri in jhe 400 coluen meee allows Qhae field gaa cy? = = testing is incredibly fast, taking about E seconds | colours and full size characters. Text is typed in woth the tas = acs ee ee to Test an Ad page. Words are flashed onto Lead | appearance thal i¢ required. Address on the r ght. “Ooor Su ht ack Darn Temnoty: FEMS worker ecrean a6 they are tested and the programme math a0 ana 80. CALE Coc Treg Bad tha stops if the werd isunknawn The word car ther Sahin foe led fries from cise

be stored, edited or ignored, Tha tape voriian is suppoed with 4000 words (disc verseon —_ crc }

on the lett “Youre gncereély wm the cane etc. When ts & ioriated the programme works out how 1 mauntadn the came | appearance for the dbfferant width enablieg ary wedth be tween 40 and 130 columns to be printed woth rehonna iting | ond with spaces added oventy to justify the test. (Punctuation then bef? and right)

The teat that is typed inte the echbor ein yellow Maced tex] chin red ond can be blocked moved, AéAleted oF airyoel Pro sr eraTe Meri peat age ee ond markers and endtructhons arcin blue. Special printer Conia! inttnichors ore in red. Piesaant fo tre eyed and osey io ee 2 Glance wheal s

ha ening

ij

The ESCAPE mode provides mony facilities oll based an koy words Cut, paste, move, find, and hlencen bo saved on iape of dist bul can 060 be fempotanly store mn another part of memory @nabling instant access io seven! files

Security Code

A security Cocke up to hifteen characters long can be entered and then this is used to encode all foxt before saving to tape ordisc This anotatoy hit a hughly Secure wyaeT

—— Printer

a > Send Cheque/ Postal Order To: Brunning Software 34 Helston Road,

Chelmstord,

Essex,

CMI 5JE.

Telephorsa (0245) 2S2384 (24 Aoure)

Word well Operate corecthy with any prin. nnects to the onnter part, The printer codes can be set up for any printer and smo with ¢ach file

TAS-SPELL

Tasman Software, £16.50 disc

it would be nice to believe that a word-processor could actually |

improve your writing ability. Untortunately, this just isn't true: word processors Can make writing, adjusting and rephrasing a cgocument easier, but they won't turnanyone into a literary genius

Once that last adjustment has been made, one final stage must be completed before any document of importance can he sent out

the spelling must be checked. This not only very boring for a human being to do but is prone to human error, sloppiness and ignorance. Isa pretty hawk-eyed writer who can spotall spelling errors as well as those typing mistakes that turn ‘ands’ into ‘adns ‘thes’ into “tehs’

Tasman's [as-speill isan impressive — if not quite total — so lution tothe problem. The only really bad point about itis thatit will only work with ‘lasword 464-D or Tasword 6128. There are in fact two versions of Tas-spell, one on each side of the supplied disc, for | Tasword 454 Dand Tasword 6128. People who bought Amsword | or cassette-based Tasword will need to upgrade to the full disc program.

The reason for tts is that Tas-spellis supphed only on disc And the reason why it is supplied only on disc is its sheer size — it contains over 20,000 words, or roughiy 100K ofdata. Thisis pretty impressive when you consider that the average educaled adult probably has a vocabulary of around 25.000 words. Trying te load such asystem from tape would be far too complex; you would have to keep fast-forwarding and reversing the tape fo [ind the right dichonary biock

Pi

Tasman Cohiware for thé ; Pc $64, 664 £4125

Pregram

Amoitrad ¢

: .

tis

Be a =

&

=

Torunaspelling check you firsthave to gofrom the text file to

Tasword smain menu and press kK. Youthen need toingertthe Tas-

spell disc in the disc drive and the program can then load One welcome feature of this utility 1s its simplicity in use. The program asks for the bare minimum of information, and then gets

on with the job. On loading, the program offers just six options. | Pressing Enter makes Tas-spell go away and check for spelling |

errors. Tas-spell operates Dy runing ‘passes’ through the text. There can be up lo21 of these as the program compares each block oftext

with each block ofits dichonary.ltisasthis pomt that you willnotice |

that the program is not fast - don't use If you've got a long docu-

ment you want to check before catching the post. When it finds a |

| deletes words from the dicti

land also how to

word thatis notin its dictionary, itinghlights the word and the lines around Itand then itasks the user exactly what they want do.

The program, of course, is not ‘intelligent’. It will recognise word roots, but compounds formed by means of suffixes and | prefixes may lie beyond its ken. Hence, Tas-spell recognised ‘Stabuised Dut not cGestabilised’, whichis only to be expected but | | is the kind of thing you need to bear in mind when using it.

On fighighting a word, Tas-spell offers the user three op-| Hons. L will cause Tas-spell to add the word to its dictionary. In heory, since there is about 40K of space on the disc, up to 10,000 new words can be added. In practice maximum number of new words is about two thousand. This should be enough for anybody s needs since, after all, you can read some newspapers quite easily with just a 500 word vocabulary. Users of technical or foreign vocabulary will find this most useful. |

I will make Tas-speil/ ignore a spelling. For example, if you] have a lot of names in your file, and you don’t want to add them to] the dictionary, then this command will solve the problem |

C will allow you to change the spelling of a word if you have] made a mistake. On the 464 D version, you can edit it from Tas-] spel], but the 6128 version forces a return to Tasword. This may seem a little strange, but if you have made a whole series of] spelling errors in succession — say you started pressing a ‘p’ instead of an ‘o’ — then it saves a lot of effort for 6128 owners. Unfortunately, it corrupts Tasword 6/28 in the process, and so once the program has had the spelling checked, Tasword would | need to be reloaded. |

Further options include a number-trapping function which, | when on, will ignore words containing numbers. Numbers alone | are always ignored. $ will switch on the single letter trapping function and will reject any single letters other than ‘A’ or T'. DJ

onary, while T will put you back into |

.s ee

Late

lasword. The manual states

eo now ii

5 your own 100K from scratch, | lasword/Tas-spell system for

Amstrads with two disc : so you could have Tasword and |

your text files on one drive, and Tas-spei/on the other |

a

orb ee o

| | i

» Simple and easy to use. _» Better than Spelistar. » Easy to add to dictionary.

> Pretty slow. |

The possibiknesarestaggerng AMSTRAD ACTION JANUARY 1986 31

epresent som game-playe

: war yrite softw shul

to unleas market Leone ean owns). : ea ae ao econ as on -dhas wone : : ae cages the micro computer We Sadene of the micro me | ¢igures) hijacked the ear

ester to meet the

Having a lunch interview with David Ward isn'tan experience to be recommended. The man has so many quotable things to say that yousimply don't geta chance to put down the pen and notebook and switch to the spare ribs.

Example. On whether it's unfortunate that home computers are used mainly for playing games: ‘Before home computers came along there were three principal forms | of communication in the home — audio, visual -and print. The major uses for each of those | are entertainment. You can use your record _ player to learn French, but most people pre- fer listening to music. Similarly TV is domi- nated by entertainment and 30 is print - magazines and light novels are far more popular than serious books.

He bites into a grilled prawn, Isnatchata spare rib.

‘so 06©Why «shouldn't most computer programs be entertainment. Some people seem to think that this isn't right. They visual-

ise a computer as a knowledge machine and

Po Pie a

® Downstairs Amstrad programmers check ovl progress on Vie Ar Kung Fu,

ai arane en gem ething of e left them off a if ate ee —¥ et the comPaNY | Hy” ae and are now Porses

have been astonishingly suceen ‘¢ onto the Amstrad

rs would hav e houses, Y

, : y's chal me the company Wes Wy .< "ate Chris Ander- |

, -weorld's less | mr ERY early) train to Manch

king waves.

| fainment has changed a good deal in the last

nigma. Uniil

ce eo oe og ee ee et wa aa i

label which |

rman David | st ‘nfluential .

influential

that gives them the feeling that they should

| always be doing something useful with it. It's a conundrum which has never been analysed

properly. iesiess a Se ar TNA NC

“The fact 1s that the commercial and educatonal market for home computer soft- ware hasn't succeeded in this country. Boots dust down their educational soitware every Friday. By Monday what they ve shipped out is tons of games.’

He pauses while I try to catch up — the shorthand isn't what it was. | reach for the fork, but no, he has more:

‘There was a prevalent view a couple years ago that unless people did serious things with computers they would go away. | think they've been proved wrong. Take two examples. Compare the BBC micro with the Amstrad. | think that Amstrad's view is that computers should be used for what people want to use them for. Alan Sugar hasn't tried to make the most technically advanced com- puter — he’s not on a mission to educate the

| world.

‘It's not the stuff leqends are made of, and

| maybe the BBC micro is. But look at it. 100

ports along the back that no one will ever use and a price tag to match. The 128K version costs what, £600. It's not hard to see why Amstrad is now more successful.’

But, I ponder, does that mean that home computers are just ime wasters?

‘Not atall. The nature of computer enter-

32 JANUARY 1986 AMSTRAD ACTION ruting the waves?

| which just couldn't be done on cassette.’

year or two. Some of the games being pro- duced now are quite fantastic. | think it's much more laudable to spend two hours on Frankie Goes to Hollywood (one of the new Ocean titles) than to watch Coronation Street. It's a much more intellectually stimulating and rewarding exercise.

‘What makes it different is that it's an in- teracihve process. It's much more lke the process of reading a book. And computer games still have a long way to go, especially on disk. The Amstrad 6128 could play a very important part here. It's the first cheap home computer to have a built-in disk drive and it could open up a whole new world for qame-

& Pou! Finnegan, ‘Yie ArKung Fu's the beat game I've ever seen’

‘Until now British software houses haven't developed games specifically for disk-drive owners, they've just converted the cassette versions, This 6128 could change all that. You'll start getting huge interactive adventures with several hundred E of code written specially for the machine. Games

It is evident that a considerable amount of fime at Ocean is spent predicting the fu- ture. Inside the office building, situated in the

a music room where the nephew of famous flautist James Galway puts together the program sound-tracks.

| tha production of advertisements and the

David Ward's own office is notable for the reading matier inevidence. This includes | an intriquing little journal called Licensing | Report ("the monthly bulletin of character | merchandising’), essential reading for some- one constantly trying to keep his finger (and chequebock) on the pulse of the latest fads ~ almost all Ocean's titles are designed to have a strong hook inte the popular imagination, The programming takes place down- Blairs, but you would be disappointed if you expected to find rows of hard-working pro- grammers on site. Only a handful work for Ocean full-time. The reat of the company's Vast output is produced by freelance teams situated around the country. About 60 out- | side programmers are engaged at any one | time, asituation which saye alotabout the way the home computer scene has changed in the last couple years.

heart of gothic Manchester, is a door which

: ae he Aion we oe fe eg: Bt

eo : = an eee ik fee

visitors are not shown through. ‘Sorry,’ said David, ‘that’s our project for next year.’ Still, the visitable areas are revealing enough. Once past the reception area with its tank of 13 goldfish and friendlyreceptionist Clare (well, she's notin the tank), you find a suite of around a dozen semi-partitioned offices. These include an art studio where all the company's numerous ads are produced, and

Sat showse Bae basen me ae ses Se A Sera "e ee a a pete oie: Pe ana t gs ues Tt used to be the case that successful programs could be written by a single per- gon directly on the machine they'd be re- | leased on. By and large that isn't true any more. Games get written on large-memory | development machines using development | software tools. You need to create cells of programmers to do this effectively.’ Apartfrom a few well-publicised excep- tions such as Denton Designs (programmers of Frankie) Ocean will not reveal who pro- duces their programs. This is to prevent them being head-hunted by other software i houses. ‘It's happening all the ime. When we ee ee : ee SS rote oe go to shows every programmer is pounced oe Renan, Penney on by every other software house. There's hitch eaten nothing you can do about it. We've even had Our Van drivers approached.’ Ocean started outin the early days of the home computer boom as a mail order com- pany. But when the High Street stores began

& David Ward: SHRAH, if's off the record.

Peas Hin ts BA [ cl rm

Artist Stephen Blower working on odvertisement

stocking software the mail order business disappeared virtually overnight and the company engineered a timely switch into software publishing. One big change since then is that Program production has become vastly more complex. Instead of just a tape ina box, you have to produce three different versions for three different machines, and in both cassette and disk formats. For each different package, instructions need altering and in most cages these have to be translated into four different lanquages for the booming Eu- | ropean market.

ee Sarre

Lp dy

A.dd to that the problems of coordinating

selling of the programs to distributors and it's not hard to sae why most software managers are busy people.

sill, at Ocean business is booming. ‘Our

| sales in Europe this year will be about as

Much as our entire business last year. This Christmas is going to be phenomenal.’

Butwhatabout the stagnation of the home computer market that everyone was talking about a while back? ‘I know it sounds fatuoug, but we've never been affected by that at all. Every month has been better than the last. Obviously growth can't go on like that for | ever — in fact this year for the first tima we found that June and July had a bit ofa dip. But until then every single month we've been in | business has been better than the one before."

The further sayings of

David Ward

on British in

gemuity, We, oe

Oriri f none fa,

a tion and’ Sai PROVE! Ent we oe Es oe > railway i at iF A Hire te cre e CHE mliice.

Were

y are iyi bebo fs Of atl ‘kinds fin no: Savi fh ; hie B58

ith ie Pa J . ! i _Srent cause We doittomake mann a « emonay ”

On European sales: About a quarter of cur stuf goes abroad. We aug! fo get the ueen seaward for sai

= future p prices:

4 The fir : OU , iP oe ar, oa. ‘ i ae Duy 8 JO00K mack; nee th by wh ie 9V@ fOr £200 Burin. Late s, Pa! yOu lay then - La to |

| PAV ESCO, Teach ach , Diéce nsf SO? ware fon oy js

On future software Gereloniiens ‘Wew fect- niques are boing deve wed to help us write gi very iste E programs Véry uit ily You

fdn't have cre a Frankie on the Spec

CL

Irluy im years. a

On the advantages of being Ocean's size: ‘There's no polities ere. we're too smail You pass everyone élse In the corridor 25

hines 2 day

On developing new programs. Clur acess nessisallabout being able to react quickiy. si

VOU Wart fo make a Geile aooui sone coi temporary aspect of British iife you bave to | move fast.’

| = working’ im the software scone; Think Ws $ , tent JTOST OxGHINe fine you Cait co. v4 | arealy involved im the Warr ond eS ae nology. fr ere Ver" teil

Na weateorieg Use cafes AMSTRAD ACTION I JANUARY | a80 33

This classy listing is going to appeal to two sorts of people. On one | level it can be used for some enjoyable doodling asa clever litle |

art program. But it can also be put to very sophisticated use by anyone wanting to create their own graphic symbols for use in programs — hence the program's title User Defined Graphics.

If you're a programmer you'll know that the computer stores letters, punctuation symbols and various other graphic shapes coded with numbers ranging from 33 to 255 (the so-called ASCI codes). You can print these on screen using the command CHEK$. For example PRINT CHR$(65) will print the letter A.

What this listing does is to allow you to redefine the graphic shape associated with each of these numbers. 5o if you wanted to change the shape of the “a” or turn it into a little space-ship ora telephone or a face, this program will let you do that very easily. You could use itto design anew character set which you could load in and run every time you got tired of the type of print Arnold normally uses. Or, if you don't want fo mess around with the keyboard, you can simply define graphic shapes for the numbers above 128and then make use of these in your own programs—once you're happy with the shapes you've created, this listing will actually create the program lines needed to generate them again instantly whenever needed.

Many thanks (and a nice cheque) to the author, DAVID MUIR of |

Plymouth.

Program instructions

By

When the program is muna grid cf nine large squares 15 ai: on screen. Each of these represents asingle use det ined and is further divided into a grid of 64 small squares. TI Cursor in ihe qs id top left. To the right is a block Of nine numbers which is simply aqu ide to the numbering of the large squares The curser can be moved around the grid with the cursor “ahh ifthe COPY key is pushed then the small equare atthe cursor osition will be filled if empty, or emptied if filed. If SHIFT ts hile using the cursor keys. a continuous drawing {or

erasing) effect is possible.

piayed

or Spec = oT

eased art

There are a host of commands to save you time. As a general

oe there are twotypes of command: a small letter + number (!-

operates on the specified large square, while a capital letter speraiesc o \ the whole grid E.—-EMPTY the whole grid. F—FILL the whole grid H—horizonially Lcaieaie ‘ ate V-vertically mirror grid A-ROTATE grid 90 Saerken anti-clockwise

C—rotate grid 90 degrees clockwise

Thecommandse [h.v.aandcicliowed by i inumber (1-9) havethe |

| eaves effect to the above on the specified UDG square

34) ANUARY 1986 AMSTRAD ACTION ten tinger excerciven

* emacs 7 fe} byneik Perea! | # 5,

Uinumber ) I

- = = F LMT il orig acd Df

Dinumber)—the same, but down

Linumber) the same, but lett Rinumber)—the same, put right

i minumber lWnumber 2)— COPY the cx

or ea Juare ¢ #

Pi 0-2) -PICTURE the grid design.

i PRINT CHRS(number). where the

bole! “lay ak - a =—_ = _

har ii or. ee ee ee MOVE the whole orld des

ke =m

mlents ¢

f UDG s gu

This reveals swhatt

pal

sre 1 tr

cus -_ f

2.8 Geb eel

i

| look like in each of the three graphics modes 0-2 N - CREATE program lines to store your ‘UDG 38 nine in furn you will beasked if you wanttosav fs you are asked toi inp’ ut the ASC] code num under (33-255). If you press EN'T ER here instea: program will store the first UDG at 255. the i! Next ‘bee are asked to press 0 on the: it UDG and take you on t 2 — DELETE the pri ate Il eS d

rdinary SAVE I in

Ie sus hee Ente ooo oe a Sho fe Lili

number is the

bauuTs-

|

en 0 | c ag="s" OR a8=e" aimee a as=<"E" THEN 190 ELSE IF 3 t pei ORR eee ie _em" THEN 215 ELSE IF taokFs * = IF a~-hEO THEN iS ; ELSE LF UPPERS (a2) ="M THEN a (am) = *" THEN | fa>kEF AND ac&F4) THEN 45 CN 265 ELSE IF UPPERS(a

40 IF

40 ELSE IF

5 ELSE 45 PEN

S50 x=x- = yey- lk (aah

60 ao #0 7o BO

BS FO so

UDG 4 "DMUIRBS

7 "388 DO WOT 10 GOTO 270 15 a(tt,u,¥s 270 LOCATE x,¥: PEM 75 CLS #3: PRINT 5; oO a@=INKEYS: IF at=" 75 ELSE IF aé="H"*

CLS #3

100 IF at=<"v" THEN FOR i=1 TO S:FOR j=1 TO B:a(i,j,q,p)=cli,9-j}:NEXT: NEXT 105 IF a®="a" THEN FOR i=1 TO @:FOR j=1 TO S!ali,j,q,pl=ct9-j,i1)!:NEXT:NEXT 110 IF a®="c" THEN FOR i=1 TO 8:FOR j=1 TO Siali,j,g,p)=ctj,9-i) :NEXT: NEXT

CHANGE LINE NUMBERS ‘°: TEE

= J a = | ie | wi:GOTO 30 PRINT CHR® (255) 5: RETUR wabei—altsU,V¥e™? = we E x,¥:PEN 1:PR] O:PRINT cCHRS(2 "Next?" +CHRS(?7) ye * THEN 30 ELSE IF a®="h Ue oR aS="A" OR as="C

OR aSs="v~ oR at="a" OR caiiertball teste OR ag="L" OR a#="R”" OF aé#="U

RF as="V" THEN i?5 ELSE g=aASc (a®)

UPPERS{a®)="P" TH

[IF UPPERS (aS)="2"

(att,u,v,4)) :LOCATE my ¥*

| g)*l1#t(a= 1#(a=iF3 AND nee Fi AND yi 24) +i (astro

PRINT CHRS (254) );>PEN i Fz? AND x21! AND yi)

WEINT((ix-L)/8) 41 in=INT((y-1) /6) 415 tex-88iv-1) su=y-8e(n-1)

LOCATE «,y¥:I PEN O:PRINT CHRS(254)7,:LOCATE x,y7y:PEN 1: PRINT CHRS(255);:GOTO 30 al(t,u,Vv,Hl=l-alt,u,v,HW)la=a-49:G0OTO 45

CLS #23: PRINT #3, "Square Num?" +CHRS(7)

QS=INKEYS:IF g@="" THEN SO ELSE IF tqgt}"?" OR g®¢"1") THEN 80 ELSE qg=VALI(q®):

p=INT ((qg-1)/3)41!qQ=q-( (p-1) #3) FOR i=1 TO 8:FOR j=1 TO S8:cti,j)=ati,j,q,p)iNEXT:NEXT IF a@="h" THEN FOR i=1 TO S:FOR j=1 TO B:ali,j,q,p)=c(9-i,j) :NEXT:NEXT

115 f=(p-1)#8ie=-(9-1)46 i120 FOR i=1 TO @:FOoR j=1i1 TO 8: EXTINEXT:GOSUB 20 125 GOTO 25 reid ener #5, "“Compiling...":FOR h=1 To 3:FoR = + fe ats = : : earners ‘J L)#8, i+ th 1)¥8)=atk,i,j,h):NEXT:NEXT:SOUND 1.478 1: NEXT: NE. paste aa ae ein OR aS="R"* OR at="u" OR ag="p* THEN 152 Pie een fNTCtEiy/evidsk ee fie ieee #4:FOR j;=1 To 24: e=INT((i-1)/8)4+1:4

erat g *M=]-((9-1)#8) ;al(#,h,e, g)=b(25 “bo 140 IF = hel j Ps : a ; EME thot sce THEN FOR i= TO 24:FOR j=1 TO 24:e=INT((i-1)/@) 41: ee fe she Filh=j-(Cg-1) 48) 2a#,h,e,9)=b ti IAT LSPs ela cia bs 2#4:FOR j=1 To 24; @=INT(ti-1)/8) 1: 4=i-(fe-1) 88): 150 IF a$="c* Pes Fos PI ¥8) talt,h,e,9) =b(25-j,i):NEXT: SOUND 1,329,1:NEXT |

. FUR 1=1 TO 24:FOR j;=1 To £4: e=INT( (i-1)/8)+4+1:4=i-( (e-1) #9):

INT ¢ (7-1) /8)+41*h=;- J cf =] #8) | ; jor f a i 151 GoTo 175 9 af, H,e©,9) Bt j,25-i) NEXT: SOUND 1,327, 1: NEXT

iS2 CLS #2: PRINT #5, "Number 1-7" 153 gt=INKEY®:IF g#>"7" oR fling..." | 155 IF a€="L" THEN FOR i=1 TO 24:FOR ; INT((j~1)/B)415h=j-¢(g-1)#8) :al¢,h,

LOCATE e+i,#+j]=PEN

-i,j)2NEXT:SOUND 1,329. 1:NExT

»20-j) NEXT: SOUND 1,529, 1: NEXT

g=

PCHRS (7); QS¢ "1" THEN 15 . O=VAI zi | IS5 ELSE g=VAL(q#):CLS w3:PRINT #3, “Comp

=1 TO 29; @=INT((i-1)/8)+1:#=i-((e-1) ¥)

160 IF aS="R" THEN FOR i=1 TO 24:FOR j=1 To 24:

INT ((j-1)/8)412h=) -¢ (¢-: ws Lt | 9-L) #8) tatt,h =- y

@=INT(Ci-1)/8)412#=i-( (e-1)48) 2 9= Q-248Ci¢G+1), j)#(i>q):NEXT: SOUND 1,

a

1 TO 24:FOR j=1 TO J§:@=INTt(ii-i1)/8)+1l.t=1 (te-1) 48) ig9=

“5 IF as="D" THEN FOR i= 143 IF a ég+1))#(j>q): NEXT: SOUND 1,

INT ¢(j-1)/8)41:h=j-t(9-1)#8) ralt,h,e,g) =-blisj-q- 25ers 329, 1: NEXT | | | es, : ns eee aS="U" THEN FOR i=1 TO 24:FOR j=1 TO Z4i@=INT( Ci-L)/G) 41,451 ((e-1)#6)29* INTC 4-1) PDS S bas —{ (9-140) FACE ghyeyg) =—b (i, §+q+24H# Cj 224-G) #15 25g) (NEXT SOL D 1,329, 1:MEXT ? |

i75 CLS #3:FOR h=1 TO 3:FOR i= i+{h-1)%8:PEN atk,i,j,h):PRINT CHRS (254); 180 NEXT: NEXT:NEXT:NEXT:GOSUB 20

165 GOTO 25

if0 CLS #3:n=-1%(as= e | ATE k+¢j-1)28, i+(h-1) 86: PEN niPRINT CHRS(254)fratk,i,ish) GOSUB 20:GOTO 25 | ) |

195 CLS #3:PRINT #3, “Square Num?" +CHRS (7) u eae 200 g®=INKEYS: IF qs="* THEN 200 ELSE IF go@>"F" OR gsc‘ ‘n=-i#e(at="F") CLS #3 | | | 205 p=INT{ (g-1)/3) 41: g=Q- ( (p-1)#3) tpi=(p-1)¥Si qi=(q-1) #8 > 210 FOR i=1 TO S:FOR i=1 TO B:LOCATE git+i,piltjiati,i,qg,pi=n-PEN n J¢°NEXT:INEXT:GOSUB 20: G0TO oo

1 TO &:FOR j=1 TO 3:FOR k=1 TO S:LOCATE k+(j-1)#8,

®ce*)"'FOR hel TO 3:FOR i=! TO S:FOR ;=1 TO 3: FOR k=i1 TO race =n:NEXT:NEXT:NEXT:NEAT:

THEN 200 ELSE qg=VAL (q*)

-PRINT CHR#{(254

= Py .* “From (Num) ?"+CHRS( 7) | 215 CLS #3:PRINT #35, °From (Mu THEN 220 ELSE gl=VAL (qs)

220 g&=INKEY$:IF g®="" THEN 220 ELSE IF q®>"9" OR q$<"l°

(40i,4,9.,P)): PRINT CHR®(254)3:N i=1 TO 8:FOR j=1 TO 3:FoOR z

=i-((e-1)%8):g= F=i-((e-1)48)!g=

=

‘+ g)j=-Biis = : i, D 1,329, 1: NEXT Ss GIS" Bi t+qe24# (1224-9) , 5) #144 25-q) =NEXT: SOUN |

NUARY 1986 35

225 CLS #I:PRINT #3, "To (Num) ?"4+CHR€(>) | — 230 q@=INKEYS#:IF gs="" THEN 230 ELSE IF g3?"9" GR g&<"*1" THEN 230 ELSE q2=VAL igs —_ IF g2=qi THEN 715

220 CLS WS pI=INT((qi-1)/3) +12 qi=qi-( (pl—1) #3) i p2=INT ¢ (q2-1) £3) +1: q2=q2-( (p2-1)%

a)

£40 FOR i=1 TO S:FOR j=1 TO Siatli,j,q92,p2)}=ali,j,ql,p1) NEXT: NEXT

245 f=(p2-1)#8:e=(92-1)248

230 FOR i=1 TO 8:FOR j=1 TO S:ILOCATE e+i NEXT: NEXT: GOSUB 270

255 GOTO 25

#60 CLS:DELETE -530:END

£65 CLS ®3:PRINT #3, "Mode Num?"+CHRS(7)

270 ORIGIN $90, 332: qS=INKEY®: IF g#="" THEN 270 ELSE IF g®>"2" OR g%<"0" THEN 270 ELSE g=VAL(g®):CLS #1: CLS #7

275 IF g=1 THEN FOR h=1 TO 3:FOR i=1 TO 8:FOR j=1 TO S:FOR k=1 TO 8: PLOT 2#((j- LIRGtK-1),-20C(h-1)8G4+i1-1),1-1#tatk,i,j,h) =O) !NEXT!NEXT:NEXT:NEXT: GOTO 25

280 IF q=2 THEN FOR h=1 TO 3:FOR i=i To e@:FOR j=1 TO 3:FOR k=i1 TO 8: PLOT 2#((j- APeGtK=1),-48((h-1)864i-1),atk,i,j,h):DRAWR 0,2,1-1#(a(k,i,j,h)=0) NEXT: NEXT: NEX T:NEXT: GOTO 25

#85 IF g=0 THEN FOR h=1 TO 3:FOR i=1 To g8:FOR j=l TO S:FOR k=l TO 8: PLOT 4#( (4 -

L)#G6+k-1),-28((h-1)#8+i-1),a(k,i,j,h) 2: DRAWR 2,0,l-l#lat(k,i,j,h)=0) ! NEXT! NEXT! NEX TINMEXT:IGOTO 25

e¥4+):PEN(ali,j,92,p2)): PRINT CHR®(254);-

dig @)ixeliyeiiteiiuel:veliwel: linum=1000;ch® a | CT a = j

290 DIM at8,8,3,3),0(24,24),c(8,8),

mi MODE 1:INK 1,1:INK 0,21: INK 3,11: INK ini sige as ape 0,384, 3: NEXT ‘ i L :** if aa ole wR Ae ' a | © :

OR i: d STEP 16; MOVE 0, 1° DAWA oe MOVE 1. O:DRAWR 0,384, 2:NEXT 300 FOR i=0 TO ep ar son: WOUS 0, i): DRAWR 384,0,2:MOVE ae page ase oe ook jes to 2:FOR j=l TO 3:LOCATE 25+j,i+2;PRINT ae At ee

| “ag ern J” erat hs mo | 13,26,

ae MINDOW Wi, 30, 40, 1,6: ¥INDOW W2,26,40,9,25: WINDOW #5 sive

20 PAPER #3,0:CLS #3 me a SYMBOL AFTER 126:SYMBOL 254,0,127, 127, ,85,42,95, 42,85 330 PRINT CHR® (22) +CHR Le =35 CLS W3IPRINT #3,"Compiling... R k=l TO 8 =

a: :MEXT 340 l=2¥ltatk, j,i, hen : |

127,127,127,127,127: SYMBOL 255,0,85,42

-pR? HRS (255)1):GOTO 25 stains BE eee eee eee a Sif OR j=) TO 3:FOR j=1 TO 8:1=0:FO

476, 1: NEXT: NEXT

350 = mh mw j # - = i] TO 8 see at#izCLS W2:PRINT WZ, "("Fis") "SPRINT M2:FOR j

260 PRINT W2,d(i-1, 4):NEXT 365 CLS #3:PRINT #3, "Save?"+CHRS(?7)

370 aS=INKEYS: aS=UPPERS(a®):IF aS="¥" THEN 365 ELSE IF a®¢{>"N* THEN 370

375 CLS #3

=80 IF it? THEN 2355 ELSE CLS @2:GOTO 25

~35 CLS #3: PRINT #3,°Char Number?" +CHRS(7)

$70 INPUT #3,a8: IF a®="* THEN IF ch=23 THEN 285 ELSE linum=linum+10:char=ch: ch=c h-i:GoTO 405

32 IF LEN(aS)>3 THEN 385 ELSE flag=O0:FOR j=1 TO LEN(a®):IF MID@iat,j,1)>"°F" OR MIDS(at,j,1)<¢"O" THEN flag=1

375 NEXT: IF #lag=1 THEN 385 ELSE IF VAL (aS)<¢33 OR VAL (a) >255 THEN 23a5

goo Char=VAL (aS) i ch=char:ch=ch-1!: linum=]inum+10

405 mS=STRS(linum) +"symbo! "*STR#itchar)+*,"+STR®(d(i-1,1))4+*,"4¢STRe(d(i-1,2))4", “*STRO(d(i-1,3)) +", “*STRE(dti-1,4)) 4", “+STRE(d(1-1,5))4", “+STRO(d(i-1,6))4", "4ST Re(dCi-1,7))+", *¢STReI(d(i-1,8))+CHRS(13)

410 mé=mt+"WINDOW SWAP O,3ikey 128,chr®(48):GOTO 380"+CHRS(173)

$15 KEY 128,m8:PRINT #2,"O On Pad When"+CHRS(7):WINDOW SWAP O,3:END

730 REM BREAK POINT

1000 SYMBOL AFTER 23

1010 SYMBOL 33, 0, Oo, Oo, Oo, 0, O, o, oO

= = a

36 JANUARY 1986 AMSTRAD ACTION the type-ins with bite

a

em

on eee 5 are ee SN ss Se ie nine

There’s some hot stuff around this Yuletide, which resulted in a tense struggle for the coveted Mastergame spot. In the end the long-awaited Hypersports just lost out to the smashing Yie-Ar Kung Fu.

Once again each game has been given the works — by that I mean Bob Wade, followed by a Second Opinion. What's new is the Voice of the People page, where you get your chance to air your views of our reviews. Keep those letters coming!

Onee again the unique AA reviewing system has sorted the wheat from the chaff — for an explanation of how we do it, see |

ALE? PERT C GAMEPLAY. No spine Gets oe Hee o a Stoney: set Thorough 16s! Take software Sere obs Witsaches: : te fender years (ne ket i Tent 1On prea

Aoudind same ever rolesan | ta tae Teal ios the ‘arts other Teer - ra an Tow a

ei aks sieeve

ee en See saeat

2 ‘EXTRA OPINIONS. ts ales donosroue wy: Poly TRVLEWE! = lastes: sVATY shormoushy. Soallihe qarnies wer i AA EIR lookest at by at lest two. people. m many of them by three. Not eniy. does ihe. mean you an Feees at EON ew under the Second -

concern is co Incidenisliy we've now extending thi sie precgeee even ne

by Sete so Py a ig ‘OTR: Opinions ariel rannas OM: new james: Reset os the Ed ines page tor details of aschéme which willturnour review. : ake aly inte a living forum of Amstrad owners. siatenae ans ci nee

saa at!

3. LABELLED SCREEN SHOTS. ls corey opouens oe oe Screen: Sein Sut Peseta Can. be: pee Soe eae — :

gat : es = using percentages lor extra a floxibiity and precision, ‘And with 3 SOT Garr mie q ta work

Oe ia ane

which: are’ i pe ratings. biees de be = jest look out for those

featuring long! bars with dark gape

4A Ratings - how they work — AA Ratings

et a ll 7 n ig’ 4

| 4 |

We ve come up wit ith t ive differ- Lees Which, we reckon, COWeET @ thels unportant about a

‘Basi cally. this mearns..er what the game looks like: colour, definition, animation, imaqginalion. It's sale to

“tells you how oflen you're likely to return to a game. That depends on such matters as the number of screens and levels, the the task, the degree of long-term challenge. An addictive game with only a couple of screens to il will get a high Grab Factor and low Staying Power, one with a 1000-

Page after page of sensational game reviews

vanety of

Jame ibe mos! importantis the say that monochrome Noughis and whic resents our Crosses will score fairly low

: Games SONICS next. Sweet music, horn- Which score & Stiugheréarn ble pose, silence, all will be rated the much ght af of AW. on quality and quantty. This rating RAVE, wh rated involves the use of ears. Jame in any 1 208 ww 60MesSG RAB FACTOR We think youll MASTERGAME - we go throug! like this one. Does the game really qames before semcung tat GRAS you? Are you hooked? Will one you miss an episode of The

The ratings categories are Archers to play i High Grab meant to be pets ge Factor means that the whole office explanatory, bul t tha aiwasn iwhy abandons work, Bob Wade who-

4 rs be oe LW :

we didnt print thern last issue

aly ining We just ran Out oi space! So here are the missing explanations. Hopefully you'll agree our categories make a re- freshing change from the usual GRAPHICS is the first category

ops with debght and even the publisher looks mildly pleased 100% means the game i more addictive than cider

STAYING POWER You may have qot the habit, but how long are you going to keep Mt? Staying Power

screen playing area but lacking in playabuity would be the other way round

AA RATING Nothing to do with cars. This is the result of a very hard sum involving all the othe: ratings. plus factors lke pnce, quality of packaging and instruc- tons, reliability and any other re- levant factors we can think of You wonl go far wrong with any game over 80%

MASTERGAME

Vie Ar Kung-Fu 54

AA RAVES Chimera 38 Computer Hits 50 Doors of Doom 46 Hypersports 48 Obsidian 56 Strangeloop 46 | They Sold a Million 62 |

GAMES TESTED

Arabian Nights 42

Battle Beyond the

| Stars 40

| Dogsbody 65

3D Quasars 44

Fighting Warrior 70

Geoff Capes

Glenn Hoddle Soccer >

Macrocosmica 42

| Mexico ‘86 40 Port Stanley 66

Renegade 65

Tombstown 638

Wriggler 52

Zorro 44

|

CHIMERA

Firebird. £3.95 cass, joystick or keys

i 2) @ =| a8 th ik a f t 5 th

- i : F a oo . i 3 cs 1 a, = " — + or he Tis. a Ay | _ =, = a | a - ai 4 al 1 a lee ad ¥ ag ze _

SO/ANUARY [966 AMSTRAD ACTION oun the tbe

(fat rie y . at some tm Scape

A i agen carey May 1, aroaining row? ecole woply

—}

"i aT

a fonter ni hick pou? pa Boar Wega eh is Catt Pt Ge ale , i GRAPHICS 2 See ee en ether SONICS Sey

GRAB FACTOR |

i a

STAYING POWER ck Sean | AA RATING tek” Soeecee

_ i

works — well this one con make sparks Fly 2.Don't waste good cooking heat, give it There ore tome complicoted puzzies in the something fo work on. game ond we didn t want to give too much 3.The companion to.c nut will provide o killer oweoy, but here are some clues that may heip heard. - you out if you get stuck 4.Task number one is completed in a sod ; % 0 _1.You've heard of throwing a spanner in the room.

= = ll

ot ow e

join the ctar AMSTRAD ACTION JANUARY 1986 39

‘MEXICO *86

Suntsert, FS. set wahsanaocarh wih totes

anor pas sata cos ei imi

‘tion to the number of people: on eer :

ive games..In the. iat DIT @e: Ton had two rai sat Coe ton sess

Sener and one oat a: ‘saved game fom. the | i ;

mpleted qualifying sec “The game arrives

| this Qame-: just which eleven players to pick fore ase ae where and how: te play them. ae

BATTLE BEYOND THE STARS

solar Sottware, £8.95 cass, joystick or keys

Lett, Tant, ears. Where days beiore gone. Well breed

hire. lt was music to my tone-deal ‘Thad been musing only a aw ‘have all the shool-‘em-ups here is proof positive that the is not completely extinct, that here is Sull hope for those unreqenerate blasters who will not, or cannot, cope with those new fangied notions of mapping and thinking s la be the firstto Q6Scribe as an who’ S

years of 4

Hattie Beyond The Star AGITUT, 18 not what ongina! game. It will re Deen in an arcade in the past few Classic called ¢ (Ou control a ship hiring up the : screen at a alens nie cown and unloading several mega-tons of lethal bombs. rou clear Wave and gqoontothe next, rou clear thatana advance iO take CT ¥E 1 Mitel e PxXiTa lerrestrials, And so on, for: the game contains.

Fr, 5 | =e YOULL (AU

Min yore

‘auaxians

Variety of

HTL

IS Thany Waves as

40;/ANUARY 1986 AMSTRAD ACTION

ie coon hanged Beale ther an ter essere some détails and philosophy —

oe sees a: vacant rs seis Gi scorers bid. ype: Tm nak

ie ~ > n determine he 0: a taken when

6 players pur- pete eee cal K BepeTs, de- lack: whe Yeas two will reby a players suita- ghtor centre is

goes ever fur- E the eure 8

Injuries and shortterm

a: alse be. introduced and will: ganse “problems from match to matck with: varyine lavais x pete hee in your eG job; Youdon't have’ fa worry abou! money in ~

| wince you: never know

—whena player may gat mnpared ee crt

day. All that lot-can mak : extremely goniplioatedsastantetapec OF yes

: legcichenes see shuren oe

f= hos rr Ti a Pai e i ar by, wo neTSe GOs: OT) DOd! 2 Ses oF r] a - Af Fossa 8 SF i = a i=} re & fain AD ee | eee eee | : wi = = 1 oe | a a = A i [°c a 1 7 2 :L i “] 4 ‘a 7 a x Fr he: -_ r = = ati aurite Serie ie ‘| =

spot but 'a whole feet of strange ook ships heavily armed With an assoriment lasers and nuclear weapons.’ We! that, Naturally, battle ensues

The game has five ievels, each with fiv Waves of aliens. Tou begin by being } since the game is so last thal il takes qoes to realise whaton Alpfia Centaur is har pening. This first wave is the Terrahawks lapping Dirds winging all over the screen ints ¥ drop bombs at an alarming rate and are very hard to nit However, here's a little tp for a tree don tmove at all, bul just Dlast away from the centre. You'll bag the lot and gradu ate to the second wave.. :

The Spinners. These are fiendishly whit ling Maltese crosses. There's not much of hem, 80 they're extremely difficult to hit

crack a i arab ] ti é Cipy Pina i, Mee — |

You're given an’ ‘initial 6 gad of} players, all established: interes onals, an can add up to 20 more of your choice: Ti initial 16 will all have their particular skills and for the ones you add, their a ce ed ari:

third dimensions can be defined. | ‘Tor ps H oo picked for each game and thi is is where yea sl

SECOND OPINION

fis Game up is

Ye MUCH OTIginanty or if powers of intelligence to

a ae - ns, = ie 7

Aw SiOOl-eil- Up jmncdiess zapping makes a yl sei i quite fashioned fo fke | po ge ky ane

weal Tew ase ; CL TH Sure NH Wi

US Wa eres i

oe ee ee ee L ‘el elale Ca

iid ;ou destroy them, you encounter the

ul deadly, aslensks ® menu are the Boun with unpredictable them are the Saucers, whose name is self-explanatory, and then the space Mines hamy around in

Fr l = Slars - colourful b Next on the qruesom cers, yellow Darrels Dbenaviour. After

Th ec | } ii ney =

space and emil a shower of Geadly particies when hit. The

sé fragments are very Nard to

ma tche fhe stomould amatch winning team.

= formations: on a ait Possession and pia

. thas a %

_ gerve their purpose to indicate the games. “event. During play you can make ‘subst-

i tutions or: move players around the field man —

“attempt ic improve the side’ 8 perlounanes | pet ahia will take CXPCrRES: Ae use | _Piexenely. |

Bach player is rated at the: end of oe

“game and the table updated for:

ying ee Games, Then the process repeats iteelf for fn

each Match until you've qualified: for the -- finals or been ignominiousiy knocked out:

6 and oda ee eee

avoid

If you get through all that lot, you ll have io face them all a gar n. But now ill be ihe Homers, seeking you out with a certam amount of intellic yence WON Task me now Yot deal with trem

In between waves your ship scroils up ine screen over grouna representing deepest } Graphics throughout are colourful sharply defined, while the sound, ifnot IY sophisticated, is a sultably noisy assort- ment of blasis and explosions. Althou not ee sm

ae ef = F — <= joothas Laserwarp Wh Le

there pa WT

a preity speckie 1 J &

Tae ee

exact-

ror, yt «© = oe =

IXTOGen Sciassy shoot- em-up, the actions

faster and much more furious

busich ckeickines inoving left anr nr right! inset oe i

-youlike and with eve thin __ sally does give you some of the problems and. ¢° above all, nneertaitties: cf an international

Suoves 3 will mean you have te Save: ESI courte oe a As

PC |

players.is allowed but any of the nine not

ue oe playing may be used as subs.

7 2 ° She. flexible strategy element of the play aes game means it can ‘be as tough or as easy ae

some excioment om iba to and ae of the |

_ game. The graphics are extremely crude but

eT 20 CONtrol it re-

Manager's job. It's obviously limited graphi- _ tally but with strategy games you have to

ant detract from the _ entoyment of the game. At its most compli- -oGated-and absorbing Tfound it-a real chal-

_ lenge trying to win: the eup although unlike Teagr @ simulations you can’ tcontinue inde-

iy. ‘One nice touch is that the program is con whegome ee pee CORY

rs

a

A fleet of saucers Prepares to woop ini on your ship

4!) ihe software

at Mailorder only.

| from Qualsof for £9. QS from this address E

“ oo shsGlais cacowhiere pasteles a os se : SS Similar style with 23 other teams in league °— and knockout! competition. Asquadofonly 20 Blac

> » Krendl challenge to the thinking» football fan. > Many definable features to tailor the

you acaibee he acaour meads: > Realistic sirmulation of the England

eer ee en Beers are veneer :

ee 8 et 8

» Graphics aren't essential butthese atchanen OF give the program a ragged. feel. |

a Certainly ‘won't sult anyone who donsn't want to work for a win. i

faxico “86 ig available by rail order conte

» Fast and furious action. > Requires little or no mental effort. » Ascending levels of difficulty.

» Requires little or no mental effort.

>» More mature players could find it too fast

» Utterly unoriginal.

hut's Stto play AMSTRAD ACTION JANUARY 1986 41

Bau ioe atari

MACROCOSMICA Amsoft Datacom, £9.95 cass, £13.95 disk, keys with joystick or keys

os sup wait iene es ghauiomatically..

2 The: flight can be interrupted by two St fates and meteor Storms. Both can

2 . > : aati ae d by evasive action but iffuelis! aus — 4 the: pirates: will have to be: fought or the ae = eer oe aes =

" takes you to

| asic. but they're not really whatthe game's

| about. If you're dying to gethald of Eine you | could cdg lot worse than while away some” :

in snasdnterrapied hight eae. oe : in re ae ere

TALES OF THE ARABIAN NIGHTS

Interceptor, £6.99, joystick or keys

The romantic hero is not yet dead — like Val- entino on his white stallion you have te go to the rescue of a fair damsel in distress. The = only problem is she's your sister and there's al bith} Ppropability you ll get killed irying. The game combines platform screens with scrolling seca here you have to avoid Langs

There & are eight stages in the game as Imrahil trying 10 get to > the battle- f the Sultan's palace where Anitra, rou is being held captive. The first sage is. 86 abGarc Sinbad 8 ship im the Red Sea and Imran] has to collect seven golden ugs inthe SET REE ie Bh are et aced allover the ship and The sialigile spell out the word ARABIAN and have to be collected in that order. This is far from easy since there aredargerson thescreentotry tostop you. A cannon, octopus and pluck ed turkey (or whal looks lke one) all lose you a life when touched and send you back to the start of the screen, The other major hazard is failing while leaping around the rigging of th Fes P because long drops also send you back to: Startof the screen. There is on! ny one succes

FEES Wi

you p

A 2 it

rs mile to find

a |

live “1 comp ee & thi

ral il Bice on Tt paddling aqainst the curren Fro mover ike e background if palms fy targ

eis which | have to be avoided or they wi!

sink the raft - this is easily done More of a problem is caused Dy crocodile riace alone the river and have to be padd) r

SS ee pee ae ey ae eee he ee ee ree fae Lee

Wie they ole SLL Lie T ot oe a. | ed SSL Seek

ning bolts. Having

done that it's beck foi

Lm. oe Df eee ee ee ee =a platiormachon 4s Imrahil nes topick upano ther seven jugs in a cave. Once agam they = il = = L. i elas DN te Pine ee bee = et z = have to speli out the word ‘Arabian’ and

SECOND OPINION

il : ee = a - Tr aiter like an this. The i

| Da rhicular is Was re i sT ffl he ri Ct é aid)

fF) i Fi Tt es ry ai ff oisa phar |

P Tes Fy eS

j J wal = ee oe ee a haley, cther screens aren'ta

wi gO fie!

Suifers 800 raing

42 JANUARY 1986 AMSTRAD ACTION canes 0-9

-Tefueding

The taciliti ies offered bs y = anets vary and to find out more about: ate. bere vou have to use the short scan. This will give some writen: details anda: series” of jeter codes that conan each: game,: These will be conk -

ous throughout asingle game and tell you =:

which planets have repair laciihes, casinos, : hyperdrive units and soon. a There are many different cargos ews a ing im price and availability but ihe obvieus

aim is to buy low at ane planetand sell high at =

the other. Where the best prices are is dis- =~ covered by experience and keeping an eye | emt for shortages. civil. wars and. UPEY ss

avVatahility ; a

Money tan be spent it marry ways :

| the ship, repairim

—

Inacasmo. This means there has ial SGuTCe of Income or you'll s Fupt OF dead YOu Tre diven a rating Dit don't expect this io improve too quickly — it's a tough game. * *

== - ia wy) Pte ce fe e o ae leo! I te | 5 = 4 a ' W | te - re : _ r So

7 ey = z Thay Oe ie as oe) oe 1 We yet a = a BB i it De ame ie ee oe ee ae Ee nc qh Arc ry ihre = |- a = oT at Lt oe WAP righey i a mar GEE BoA 8 hoe on the first screen can cause many problems 7 een ee a id i ASST See ee eS een Ee eee ee eee 5 al. oh ee ee Or = a | De OUT Stage and AST 1 OvoOWw more ra 7 7 Se a a = Tk Pay a] r a oe iT rc 7 ra hel pat a sor fon ee where Sal Tl atl ool” Ae = ln ool ie a Mates 3TO me Mon and nee conetantat tm ‘ath el = Sa: Som” ul a a Ae) | ee LE he a a al Sia eg ora: ay eet reece ae a Pie | a | ober e — = = ] rir pe or Le =} | wae | i La fae fu La ae ee MMifa: haa sn on-ie (lea mal. 1 ie =| 1 Pa he ee WC he fh oe a] am rye ae aa Know Lie Dalhein for as ie a= apie 1O Teneatit ie Ta = get | i

fej a < 4 if, protection: ae money to) Pirates, buying extra ecuipmentor =:

Once the qame has ended >|

» Avery tough game.

» Plenty of strategy required.

® Lots of nice features like the casino, » black holes and pirate fights. 3 » The trading is oe and demanding.

| > The shoot-out is graphically — unimpressive. . /» It's very easy to get beaten aaa therefore discouragedearlyon.

ee

=

but vertion hwo hod

better gameplay. eee

Version 1 VS. Version 2

The version of the program which we've reviewed is in fact the second one for the

Amstrad that has appeared. The first one

showed up at the PCW show and according to Interceptor 2-3,000 coples were probably sold before they decided to stop distributing it.

The decision was made because the company weren't 100% happy with the game and wanted to wail for this second version which was being programmed by a different person. Version one had less features on it and was a lot easier but was graphically more impressive except for some dodgy scrolling for the river and desert stages.

The games will now be sold back fo back on the same tape so that you can

— = . i =ChRESI OMA oe Beau ay

sample them both. Those of you feeling aggrieved ot having bought the first version fear not —for a fee of 50 pence to cover postage and packing Interceptor will replace the first version with the tape containing both games.

For the record, version one would get slightly lower ratings than version two,

oo. m8 £ W

» Tough platform screens. & Scrolling stages break up the action. > Calls for good timing and reactions.

'. ae

> Can become frustrating if you can't crack a screen,

» Very accurate positioning is needed for climbing ladders.

y AMSTRAD ACTION JANUARY 1986 43

Cara 8 ; ton ancl a

= and where the objects are that are é to complete ZOIToO's task.

3D QUASARS

Solar Software, £2.99 cass, joystick or keys

oo” en ey —

Peon ihe

= PPM oo romripoy#i - ot Bice od wait oF oe ee = a=

any t i PoE E i i YOu ser

r

a z oP Ure a a

F lien clas ash at thie cer sie 5 Liiicd'y Jee be os oije rexaCi 1 Wat) Lo eute IS Gis

about— ying down 4 trench s! hooting thi

1 , Py Se we ea rn 5 Da hat reo Ch

The thi ings are two types of alie

SECOND OPINION

(was pretty disappointed with this, iawy after Leing Solar Software's other lhe exciing shoot- em- up Battle Beyond The Stars. 3D Quasars fas hane of hal game s Variery, ang Precious un. The good o!' 3D trench itselfis

oi f tal oy WIth Its throbbing fines

TT id Fi is month a

executed,

good impression of movement’, Bul H tial can De said in this panes

and soon

eel cle gah nu F ron fe nis Te i = Ive,

' Troe A ree : Ee i LAT i, fs

é converted trya different

‘hia | Lora Pais

Lo, fo ae m

PC

ae | ‘OF oars on to aeks hartaee on :

44)ANUARY 1986 AMSTRAD ACTION Pere readabuiy

=a

while the trench 16 a breach in your detence

rior ee 7 -. te r Fa ae 4 it oi t i= system that YOU have to defend until it is {4 fn ee sealed, The trench appears with vour ship atthe ba ai he ge Ps Feiiia F 2] fhe hh a - i ie =f = Cm at eee om oe | 6 - e F = a Lene f reer ee ; _f- tart qT | By 5 = i r © F = 1 a a oe ee et ia & .- F a eh BEE Be ad bb i ae ek a a 4 p- a r rt 4 ie i} ' ohn =. ay Ty ‘ ray F “a, Se ee ps AL r t Ai bh ' i = ee ee = os a ape q = =F F = r ‘e! mF move let #), fede = i : & = 2 Sere ch = == 5 ur * o 7 = . P= =F fa Fr . a 8 = a = ote ee ® i = 4 afl = a 2 = ee ae a aoe, i oe ih : tom a = oh ee = am * | om u feo el he LY re - - Wh oo ee a r i aa ~ He oll | . cI <1. 8 Wh # ' 5 , wa ay i a Le me a oo hh ne The ale baa! eee — ak | tC f 4+ x oe 8 = 7 ooo.

der waves and your three aves are under constant threat. They always come in same pattern though and the

ships will complete a wave. Learning the pat- terns will help you progress through the game alinough later waves eee some luck as well. An extra life is awarded ¢ points Dut that's a score thal will ‘take som gettin

th C

i Pe oe FEY re aT of eStdieb bts bb ITT LES fi vk

Oo fl it pu Oi tC C3 ae |

BW

» Tough action. » Fast and quite colourful.

va el a re Meet stata

, a Bene es ee

Fecosaeae

o =z =

> Little variation in waves.

» Simple patterns and gameplay. » Very unoriginal.

» Simple sound effects.

More olen) whizz down the trench howords You

A Shitfire flight simulation set eee , spat: Tories Gia i wank

in 1940. Ground features pee ee ee ge othe BAP elt Group Captain, VU,

| ree == = = DSO, DFC ah | Mail order al eaedlan nar to:

and realistic & air combat. 3 3 ——" = Mirrarsaft Ltd., Maxwell House,

feresOis s available rt 74 Worship Street, Landon EC2A 2EN

WH pats Boots, a Ss Tel: 01-377 4644

and good software stores | atm gs EE Trade orders to

everywhere. |) « Mirrorsolt Lid., Purnell Book Centre, as, ~—sPraulton, Bristol BS18 SLO.

ia ma — === ae z ———_ SS EE — = - —_ > iw ~—

. - a = my = 7” " | ® * mae a BS ina a = a) if | ® = ae 2 = a = = r aT] x = 1a, c » DOORS OF DOOM : ” : = | ; Z == - & - . ins if | 265. 0173.95 disk, joystick or keys AMsoOrn: Gam I. 39 CaaS T1Se, (OPSTICK OF KEYS IceoOre a3 OF Ten The Gcrion Tok . : a 1. I | i, a a4 . ii ¥ = _o " 2 . = = a | | ae = a . 7 =i* = “ + FTF ot St eek TE. * | < be. 4 ry | 4 c 7 if = r | ad r : ‘| | = | Lain o , ria. = a ee . q mm a * i ae a TF J se uh ws z E us a 7 s 5 = ai ; i a ' = a } 2 = Aer i. CC Le 1 E ‘ =i i r L s ad Mal vee a |e . t i eT | Snowe Se COM ned rear a - = i" . a FA, i i Hany, e F ie Ti Splalea | = TS Pea Cacao ot Sei eee & = = = = q 7" j re r } se = Jal \ 2 r oh Tal ' slimes TTP LS tel ea a] a. ; “hai 7 : 1 "| t ae Cal ew ie a aE FAR fF Fi 2 “ iwe - atu a I i= a ‘had Gi se a: el LF | | iS Fo a a | oe 1 = - 7 = = | A | [| af a Le on iol | Ee L i i To it | =| atin * 2 Ce 5 := wae GI CFL =| La i ° a i | a i | gle Fl ee ile ia | cohed 1 GT La meal a | | F ai is f = a e i Te a ia) ei) a | | te EFL We PE eh | i Ie h| e ray = Pua ‘ EL TE _ _h | mi) Ls roy Won tooo even Turin aha s a 2 =H : =e = = as = a = am i (Nhs CHnorocier ve WE thet = Big ol Mig 5 rs Ss a i =

aL “ange & lt PTnmMense ly

oe et ie

ACUWC Tr

az & Te ATO ODSstaCles overct

lea Nae et j Toe Cr es

OU Start somewhere nea!

the factory Which is made up ; cs © ah

es hier a 1 1 wniae. Tr © SDE Of 21a

ih 7 Ct i

Oo OeBCns ON Oot DUT NOLliayYr Awe: P 2 ae i > i I+ 4 .

. a _<_ 7 > he Woich Wil! Provide 4a MuUc!

ee!

. em a | ra 5 =F ‘ 1 AT esate tL! LIE Ty ae Le LS

30S are Much like the staTungd blace

2 = ‘ | oa . 1 Pr J : Ea a vg : a pe, eo ey ‘ 1) Be Pr _s

Fie | Jaan Tech Waeniyy Lint Wie B's rd: ao) ile

belts, Toors and machines may

mea TANS MOE Bannec Bas take Tibm [Titi cd =

rr) cake Wa th oa cab a ar ile i Lie dite asl ie,

i ZTE a ‘ll fe

; @

46 JANUARY 1986 AMSTRAD ACTION

tiie

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s AMSTRAD ACTION JANUARY 1986 47

HYPERSPORTS lmagine, £8.95 cass. joystick only eo eT

"iit me -

this is the fourth notable aw ¥: } B's also has the var skills but unfortunately eer out on the Tho ate, 57 5 Decuthlo Fire ‘- gameplay side in events like the arm dips, Challenge and Geoff ¢ squat thrusts and football. Hypersports alse (rev aoe So r a] be Te ie > he rig a c cK Ef q rophics and gomeploy with oO motch up to this latest pwea#l a net | sense of humour thrown in when the gymnast 3 oy sl bounces on his head, the swimmer gasps for oir ond the skeet shooter winks at you.

j i 5 1 P . = - : fend fo be ve y¥ SMOr stroignitorword (GC also |

OFed out because the events woggling for running ond ao f vutton for have less skill applie mand tend not

9g angles in the throwing events. fo produce the same urgency and

AHypersports has much more voriety in both | excitement. For my money Aypersports is the

ihe events ond the skills required to complete | best yet and will really put the player and | them. their joystick through their paces.

48] ANUARY 1986 AMSTRAD ACTION

GLEN HODDLE little advantage from them and often gives the SOCCER ball away in an inconvenient position

Ansoht, Shirekilo, £8.95 cass, £12.95 disk The computer plays an incredibly fast joystick only game and has rather too many built in acivan- tages for a competitive game to be achieved without long hours of practice. Even while playing with two players itis difficulttostring together moves with s0 many players wan- dering aimlessly about all over screen. The lack of control over them, sel pieces and moat of all the kickoffs often leave you frustrated and although it may prove a long term chal-

“Robson picks up possession deep in his own half, He passes out to Barnes on the left, passed one player, passed two. down to the byeline and floats in a tantalising cross Hoddle volleys the ball from the edge of the reas ; = fi) ha ; # te al the creed pee wat Wes aaise lenge many people willbe extremely disap back in his chair realising he isn't going to pointed si the more immediate unplaya- come back from 20-0 down”. | Sines Don -

You won't actually see any volleying or | net rippling in this game but if you play the computer there will be plenty of defeats by more than 420 goals early on. Even once you ve got some practice it will be difficult to hold it to single figures. These footballing annihilanons take place ona horizontal pitch that scrolls left and right in sections and is packed with 22 thin but blocky players.

If you don't want to get massacred you can play aqaimsi another budding Pele or watch the computer battling it oui with liseli.

BW

; ox | The rather crude SECOND OPINION ployer graphics tend to nip round at high

ppead oF.

This is a game that give 100% effort butis distinctly short on shall. I's nowhere near as good a3 Matchday. The controiis appailing, and the graphics are equally bad. The sound features whatseems to be a noise of waves slowly breaking ona pebbly beach

| Inshort, nota shred of Glenn's sulky skuis

| are on view here.

PC

The games can be of three different lengths: elghtminutes, |6mimutes or unlimited. These are =piit nto two halves, except of course for the unlimited game which just keeps going ill you want to stop. Within 8 or i6 minutes though an awiul lot of goals can be scored. The computer has three skill levels Dut all iiree are immensely difficuit to beat.

The kick-oifs are more like a basketball

ok eo ee eee ce

jump ball as the two syste race each other to the ball. Even after goals the scorer may “ME: b ALM or ie | | get to the ball firsi— somebody hasnt been reading their rule book lately. Once in pos- » A very tough computer opponent. ' session you control the player with the ball » One or two player option. \ and can run with it, try to pass itor shoot. Ifyou aren't in possession you can either just use = | 1 the fire button to get the nearest player to + chase the ball or chase after it with a player under joystick control. The player under your contro] has a different colour pair of lien q shorts buttheseareoftendificulttonoticein inser seal hicks, t

the heat ofaction. 4 _ ) The ball can travel in the air or along the Linn: up. :a Rees Rent Poe cipher

ground and ifa player runs into a ioose bali he | are | oe picks up possession, or blocks it if it's in the hepaaaid of player you control is hard to air. To score you just kick or dribbie the Dall i

into the net past a goalie who doesn't dive

a = — == Ee (saves on the laundry bills) but just tries to ———— — 5 88% fe block like any other player. __ GRAPHICS FEU Sere Sineisctctts If the ball goes out of play anywhere else : : GRAB Ua 68% vB Rosbesneaeteretete erence a comer, goal kick or throw-in are awarded

but these are taken automatically and you

STAYING POWERD DA sesemmnrice ne | | AA RATING a sommmeeceni strength. This usually results in you gaining a R RATING

have no control over the balls direction or

Bringing joy tothe world AMSTRAD ACTION JANUARY 1986 49 |

eres

COMPUTERHITS >

Bea: i Jolly. cg 35 cass. £14. 35 dist

CASSETTE VERSION

of the compilalion a = [en Games Most denne:

oid mil Heipbistcadesiirlsttat-nis for-money package, effec ¥ costing half the p ) Masiertronic pee ne each. T qames on each ide enough variety to i

ict i

fore the

1ese

be Ta

| Ee

TH f ae Bel fee i ht

maxe

Ved Fails tha=s

u ft - Kt ee coms =:

. ie Ssalisty most ta : ae i | Sty eh |

Oe prtina Sian: game “enh 286 levels of | mereasing cafficuity. The aim is to quide & “tubby hero aroung ‘the: platforms on each | screen, tin the 12 eggs. Ladders and

| lifts connect the platforms which are patrol- Rowers ings and on later stages a fying duck will escape from a cage 10 harass you There are alse corn piles Jef around that both

/ you and the ducklings can get. Your man is sale enough dropping off platiormsuniesshe — | vale ot ed eee of the screen where he: |

‘four screens on which you have to reach the

chance to bring the gorilla crashing-to earth anc be reunited with the girl: |

ae PINBALL WIZARD ‘This pinball table doesn't have the able de-

retain some ofthe addictive qualities of pir

Hal down without warming. The table design is

a quite a dificult one demanding attention from the player and with features like rci- lover jargets and bonuses, The background PF colour and the graphics as the flippers hit the bali leave something to be desired but it's still a playable pinball

eroes: The usual text eer oid aveduke % | Eee 10 see How well you 19:

| | SECOND OPINION | | vrs YoOeie! FOU Che) ue Ca ssS@eMe@ OF G8 Versic] You vey] i Aa ve Pa id. at Ladd iit A ii ae | disapnantad wing fost OWT? ator 7) tie hin Poy | sens, ae TONG. & valve for money, While one a) A oe Se et ee ‘ | conn WO OF tle ¢ Manles aren | exdciyY slat tty rey Irie fi ¥ He food, olbersreayare top class. The feos Variety means that there is son siemens fo. | See @vyervone, from ihe adventurer fo the ee need | Jem with such products is a : : r i fat ip y : a ee 2 “ a “an ri 1S Le Tri icd hme ‘any Poss fev F Ret et are hy, 1 ie ; j fe WoT TENT al eat IV Au fa Panyonys Tew io . q Shue (fer ASS VW p Hea fer n | re

A version of the classic arcade game Donkey | Kongin which you have to rescue agirifrom | the dastardly clutches ofa gonia. There are §

top Wia the platforms, ladders and jifts on |

them. The gorilla sends many obstacles to. thwart you which have to be destroyed or | avoided. On the fourth screen you-ge! your |

sign feature of Macadam Bumper Dut does

: Me 4p ball “The ball movement is fairly good - aprison- J | althongh it Goes tend to spead up and slow ©

i “DEFEND ORDIE " # Agood version ofthe arcade game Defender ' where you have to protect-a planet-and ils... scientists from an qien Tvasion. The Scien :

tists wander the plano’ surface while youpro-

tect the skies above that are filed wih: landers, bombers, swarmere and. besters:— ite to. destroy you and the scientiaa: The

ngi nt on the: Wrappers: 1 only draw- i the mertiais

SOTe@N SCTOlis Lell al ne round oscil alattae ce alt back is that this is .iough to handie

OhiGs

i ik on and

zs Misa ois

FLIGHT PATHT37 A fightsinulator | thatsetsthe taskof faking of iia T3i, fiving over a mountain range and hen landing onthe other side. The display is

2 COCKDAT view ofthe horizon with the instru-

mentaion below. The parameters of the

‘fiichi can be varied.to chance the heightof the mountains, length of crosswinds and engine fires. Only one anempt at a land=:

ing is possible due to fuel constraints and this:

pombined with the slow screen upcate can: nake the game frustrating

runwey

The Covenant wos on AA Pore ond with

grophes: like tia ore you werprnied?

Oe i 8

oe ‘SPECIAL OPERATIONS ne i Graphical ‘y this war game leaves a iot to be

= gombination of tasks. It gives you the task of achieving one of seven objectives in respect

you have to photograph the complex and on “secret plans. The team you control posers

Gaming and adventure tactics are required.

A four screen piatiorm game but mnoves -at an extremely fast pace and has some devilish adversaries, The aim on each screen isto gettothetop nghthand dcorner by jumping about the platforms. You ¢an collect dots and power jewels on the way for points Buta time limit ticks inexorably down. The dangersinclide a ghost thathomesinon you,

effects but canbe at /sieesiesa. as bg can ; ai so qui eee :

ZAE re i " THECOV ET TANT

desired butit has quite a novel objective and:

idan enemy complex, On the simplest level: the hardest to penetrate it and steal-some.

different ckils so that @ combination of war-.

which |

spiky mate, moving platiormeand walkways. A very tough, fast game with good sound |

This excellent arcade adventure qot 4 rave review.in the November issue and features

Some -delbghtin graphics and demanding

gameplay: The covenant! is made up of 64

‘pincers: of parchment which as the last sur- swivor of your-rmace you have to

retrieve 1. To dolls you aisohave to capture ali the animals living mm the underdround caverns to re-

= populate the: planet: suriace. The animals

come: in four room sechions and have to be anaesthetized and this involves a puzzling elementas you make y fOr wily around either

en footdr upthe fying gicbe: Lats to do and ‘abe ih this large gaing.

| JACK AND THE BEANSTALK 1 Jack has to climb severalscreensas he tries ic

qet the money, golden qoose and tall the

| Giant. On each screen he will need an obje ot to help him get through it as various insects and birds try to bring him to gnef The final

screen has a time limit in which you m 4n axe and fei] the giant. Each screen de

| mands timing, speed and accuracy in trying to traverse the hazards which can prove very screens

dificulh to overcome. Not many though and they can prove frustrating.

ust get

BW

eS ee

ee

> 10 games forthe price of one.

>» Wide variety of game types.

®» Excellent programs like The | Covenant, Defend or Die and Heroes of Kahn.

» Full instructions forall games,”

> Anexcellent Xmas despiesincaces ;

computer owner. SA 0. Ew

» Don'texpect every game to be a hot

‘OTe.

| GRAPHICS: N/A | | N/A 3 :

GRAB FACTOR ES gee

SCVETT 89%: WA RATING EY goose:

DISC VERSION There are only six games on 1 version:Ailer Corula, Chucxie. £

Covenant.

feet ee ie Dee et! porcce ark? ifad mf. bee bee! dl ee

3D Star ote Ke. These last two cic

onthe caissct

cy Pe aes nM ame oo baa ab i

GAUNTLET

A yersion of the

a Cotte C

avery qood one too

wes colour 48 Vou Try Slop ose nasty

aliens stealing the

AUmMmsnos

3D STAR STRIKE

An oulstanging vector

featuring four testing | Dlastine

— I's «fas

ae

a =)

et=-o

7 a Ts 1 dad's

Graphic Sine sap Way (lo

moon's

laty jes OT]

f control bases on i

f a a = we shct Chicvri ‘is

TL sake

WRIGGLER Romantic Robot) Devonshire House, £7.95 cass, fll 38 sv Pol ts or keys

| ae the wriggier of the tithe igamag- retin re G02 Be NOE OW 8 ot. Fortunately he’ Rah erp maggot. ee sch hi pene ysieodadal cc ta eens mm Sb nc ca meiner rat aie ho instead of the ushal diet-of rattine flesh. oo : chica are u us cute and |

| touch prefers the odd cup oftea rine cream. i ae eons Be ein > Cutesy, colourful graphiceand He's taking part ih the: bionic wharathot various areas, The ttle music and game jin- — & Plenty of screens to explore. “which hasn’ rine finished for thirty years. gissare gon too makinga pleasing pac kage }® Great change in gravity feature. _ | However it's jess of a aoe: ari id more of an to watch snd listent6. The gamepiayoem't » wice variety of features includin o _ exploration game, a requitemuchthinkingaboutbutitshouldstill i sects, moving floorsand heats. eae This cutely-ammated maggettiasio tind — a3 ceed ae settee ee oe } the route to the finish through 20 moreens,

sito set yon anid another maggot t yp eae oe eee screens: piace mt have to: wriggle: after the other though since it ian’t in direct compe- tion. The first hazard encountered is the ants ich sap your energy. ts:behave m two main ways. One jot w honzontal movement patterns be- © pomis while the others are much 2 Napier and home in.on you. Like all the crea- --fares-in the game they sap your precious nergy dnd if this drops too low poor wri- | fer elastic no ais as he turns a toa oo

82 JANUARY 1986 AMSTRAD ACTION the action mag ‘) ‘Thake &,

vada"

IMM ATPONS, OUR HERD, | TOOK ON THE ENEMY |

Only the bravest volunteer for the ultimate suicide mission to free lost compatriots held prisoner by the armies of death, the forces of oppression. Only the fearless dare take up a challenge where courage and endurance are as essential as intelligence and skill, Compulsive. Action packed. Step forward, modern day hero, you'll never Know how good you really are until you ve tested yourself on the ultimate mission.

Available AMSTRAD Available at all good software dealers.

Send for full colour product brochure (enclose a stamp)

Zaneeey

Alligata Software Ltd., 1 Orange Street, Sheffield S1 4DW. Tel: (0742) 755796

another Kung fu game I hrowing stars at you These

bh ear F you cry ‘but «wait until you ve- heard jumped over or ducked under toav Bal

what’ 's Special abou t this one, Eight different at nee You re in.close Star will be unabie

Serorene with changing styles and throw his deadly projecnies, Even the: 4

two graphic backgrounds and proDlems aay Ay ie since he still fights hard he scree

music c are all included ina package 1 thatsets and ines to get lo a position where he can blows .

aut to be more entertaining than Fist burt jus! he fourth opponent is Pole who eget as tough, — Can sinike you from distance withiissice and

Tt takes plac = against eith Gr a mountal- SECOND OPINION iS anothiel fat, fellow like Bus hia Pinning han now sortemple! pac kdrop with the opponents | down is quite cdifficultas he waves his stick all battling to knook each other out in the same Pee ee te ee esa over the place, ( lub is opponentnumpbper ive 2D format as Fist Yo wucont rolGolongwhe has | Ai first sight this seamed [0 De & Come} UMDeis Arcs 1 carM f Ue = Tange o ol f ten movas at his dd ispogal to fight came — (ie first opponen!, Suche, arrives o thield. | king somethincy hee | e1ght devilish Opponents, the scene like a trained seal diving fora qiadiator. All this weighty Gear and Mis pork ‘Opponent number one is Buchs, a big | Beach-bail atthe circus. Buf Bucha's prety body mean You can defeal him with

ale: brut ser of a fel low, who flies on ae butch, avenifhe does seem ioe Nave a aig ies a att are ae 8 fate

head first as if he's been shot out of a cannon & | WO 3D Ihe next oppon:

and thereafter iriés to batter you to the Weg Dro oie, andi & rapidly Mace Gear § : |

ground, The £ ighters have energy gauges thal isis going tobe 4 fougn oid Scrap

and every time one of hem fanas a hit, Whal makes the game so enienrsining

marked b va amall exp! iosion, the opponent s gauge decreases by one section, When the gauge Teaches tero ihe fighter will keei over leaving them | w with their little le Ald waving 2WH POcularies ang Weapons,

despite ihe recent! rash of bash-'em-pe

i! i

the verery Of foes, bac! rye est Vas

helplessly in th th he air.’ That 1 means the y've hat d @ your progress

ne E Musicaccompa: mies th ea ae onifyo

it to and as the ble . strike

crunching sour 1d = “ crack

figh ts pri ‘og TASS Points 4

th: at© olor g rm aes

g

W | throw the stars again Nunchais the third fighte! clubs jomed by a cham. he around his iead and isabie ti some distance with the exter clubs. Like Star he’ Can Get in caose Du ie

the am« ount tof ener n y he has left if he defeats

his opponent. Most © f the fight action is very attractive, although the te isn'ti greatde Veer Tue. animation n, With the best ¢ vert be Hing the extraordinary leaps in the air that¢ Oolong can perform lo.give his enemies the run ar ound The second spponent is called Star and

you'll quic ckly discover his dirty trick of

> a - > al a

ES SONICS Be ig fis * ACh a 03% Be ie STAYING POWER era AA RATING Eee ie

The Range of Moves | y

= e* = 4. —_ eee * 7 a eee

STRIDE PUNCH: __ FLYING PUNCH:

GROUND KICK: FLYING KICK: boc

FACE PUNCH: RISING KICK: anc HOOK PUNCH: LUNGE PUNCH:

JUMPS: ROUNDHOUSE KICK:

DUCK: ANELE KICK:

| Na fel «ter einer! AMSTRAD ACTION JANUARY 1986 BS

you who don't know whai ob-

sidhan is (ike me until l reached for a diction- ary), 1'sa volcanic rock that looks like bottle- glass. This may well prove a clue within the game which is set inside an asteroid and like Strangeloop combines arcade skills, explor ahon and some tricky puzzles

The ‘story is a familiar one im that your task 1s to expiore the ship, carved out of the asteroid, avoiding the robot quards and act- ivating the power engines before making your escape. The scenario may not win prizes but the tough task and graphics will There are five engines which have to be ac- tivated and each one will be triggered by a particular object.

SECOND OPINION

he first thing that struck me about this game was the grapiucs— boight, clear and featuring some unusual colours. The game iselfis not very original, butit's so well execuied tnatitdéeserves tie praise it's getting here

Controling your man is tricky when | e's airborne. and I missed the opportunity | foshoot aliens, Bul you can't have everything.

These are found in many of the pictur- esque locations made up of man made materials and the asteroid rock. The screens Vary greatly in colour and design, bul many hold traps for the unwary. Objects thal you need appear in gravily boxes in ceilings from Where they can be collected and car

Attractive poenery Your man beeoring his

bet pecocke

56 JANUARY 1986 AMSTRAD ACTION

ried one ala time. They can be used to ach Vate OT deactvale doors, barriers and other features either by touch or by using the fire pution

The fellow who does all this for you has [two Main ways of getting around the ship, either by walking or flying around with hisjet pack, The latter is a faster way of whizzing about but unfortunately it consumes fuel or ‘nitro’. Ifthis runs outit's bye-bye to one of the hive lives. There are various points where nitro can be replenished but watch out for the ones that sap it

Amore immediate death will occur ifone of the robot security devices is encountered in the form of adevice Moving in 4 sel move ment pattern or a laser barner blocking the way or beamed across the floor. Since things happen very fast you have to Keep an eye out for these and be very careful when trying to get past them. Some are really sneaky and shoot separate missiles that catch you una wares but also follow amovement pattern

In the early stages of the qame there isn | much choice of objects or locations so that

A orovity box |

\ 1 You we colletted o ' heh hececter

most of your actions are straightiorward and obvious. However as the playing area opens up if soon becomes clear that many objects will be required to complete the game and that some hard thinking as well as trial and error will be needed. Early uses for an energy key, lazer pass and lock decoder are fairly clear as some objects and locations are marked but when you start encountering blue glass, suicide bombs and ice crystals things start to get more complicated The graphics are well drawn and the animation on the main character is qood for both walking and flying. | found the flying controls too responsive al first Dut they can be mastered with some practice. The puzzle element is once again vital to the game’s suc- mu geta kick oul of every new area e you open up. There aren’t too many unexpected touches within the qame bul some iumaginative thought will be req- uired with some problems to conquer them. The only drawback 13 thal getting past some of the robot quards can be frustratingly dif- ficult and lose precious lives while in the midst of thiniang about a knotty probiem. BW

a to Soe OL

E | =

ona Swi iwi ie ff oa ae

Lots of attractive, well designed Plenty of puzzles to solve.

A wide variety of objects and uses. Good mix of arcade and adventure

Robot guards can prove annoying as you flick between screens.

Jet pack is too responsive for some situations.

__ SONICS BARE Bases GRAB FACTOR pros ae

FOR THE AMSTRAD

CRO 464/664

A MEGA SPACE GAME

a \ky ely A De rye) Poi ye

110 1, ARCADE =

| ab 5 OF EPIC PROPORTIONS | FAST VECTOR GRAPHICS | *FULL COLOUR 3D GRAPHICS | SCROLLING SCREEN SCENES

| eA FULL TACTICAL GAME

THE CYBORG BATTLE STARS HAVE INVADED THE FEDERATION SECTOR DESTROYING ALL IN THEIR PATH.....YOUR MISSION..... HALT

THEM BEFORE EARTH IS DESTROYED. ener yy Phase i: Fly deep space missions in Starcruiser Galaxy 1 ese scene aaa using its Tactical displays to monitor Alien activity and to ae Zm\ select target Battle Stars. Encounter attacks from Alen Space Fighters and battle with them in fast Vector graphics Phase 2, Launch Space Ranger craft and fly missaons i Full Colour 3D graphics against target Battle Stars. Orbit the Batte Star before descent and flying ito its docking port. Fly through its tunnels heading for the reactor vent chamber where an attack must be launched. When they are needed, Jet Bike Commandoes carried on board your craft, may be used for sabotage tasks - depicted in scrolling screen scenes. Throughout each mission Aliens are carstanthy attacking, and the tactical sruahon 6 continually changing |

a

J ee. Byers

Se eS ee eee Et epee el MICROBYTE e

afore By fast iad over Deed Wee SOFTWARE MICROBYTE SOFTWARE (AA) oe 18 HILGROVE ROAD site“ tidckce NEWQUAY TEL: 06373 6886 ORIN 6aBe CORNWALL TR7 202

QUAL- SO FT THOUG rn TARE Sports simulations

“Thanks lor a soccer game that doesn’ assume all soccer fans are mentally QOual.Sof comment: We are pleased to be compared with these excefoni games retarded or only six years old." Wi. Whdworth Stoke-on-Trent nd would point out that we are also £5 CHEAPER THAN EITHER!!!

“Hfind the packaging of this game beaten only by Revs and Elite, and the contents | by hone.” Jason Sinclair, Lascds |

in 1966 Alf Ramsey proved that English club soccer players, with intelligent management, could not only dominate European club football. but could take on, and beat the rest of the world at Intamational level, Could you do the same in

TAPE 1 “VIAN ’O¢ TAPE2 | QUALIFIERS AL, 3 Q FINALS

A WORLD CUP MANAGEMENT SIMULATION

Summer 1984 and English International football is at its lowest ebb. We have failed to quality for the European Nations Cup. and had a string of very poor J International results. In a few months we will set out on the ‘86 World Cup qualifying trail. You have been given the most important job of restoring English pride in their football, You have a match in Paris. the USSR at Wembley, and a South American tour. to assemble a team. first to qualify, and then to beat the world's best in Mesaco

——

| TAPE 1 (Qualifiers) TAPE 2 (Finals) | Current squad of 16 players = 20 user defined players. # (Choose a 20 man squad to take to the finals. Friendlies in Paris. at Wembley « South American tour * Group of 4 prelims. 16 to tina! knockout comp ANY team formation you choose. 2 from 5 substitutes. #* Extra Time. PENALTY SHOOT-OUTS., where relevant. In match tactics: any no. of individual player adjustments * Formation and strength information on opposition. Your qualification group: full results and table * 2? from 9 substitutes (the FA tells us so) |

ENGLAND'S GAMES: FULL PITCH, 22 MAN, 3D GRAPHICS & SOUND EFFECTS H

QUAL-SOFT comments: With 5 levels of play. 12 depths of sophistication, and “fun” graphics. this game can be enjoyed by an 8 year old youngster as a “fun” game, and by the most sophisticated as a toctical/strategy challenge of the highest order.

+2 = 2 @

———e & SURELY: Tapel + Tape2 + 20 page book + p&p ON _¥ £9.95. ostiedgeecall phones orders 1/2 days, orders by 1st claea post 3/4.

QUAL-SOFT, _Tel:0438 | Please supply: Dept. CWA 721936 | MEXICO ‘86

18 Hazelmere Rd., | Amstrad a (Compatible with CPC464/664/6128)

Nanee cosas ee Address: ...

_ Stevenage, Herts SG2 8RX.

AMSTRAD ACTION JANUARY 1986 67

coe a Your aim is to get

oe we a Be et ee Ce ee ne

Se a ee

> Howto play

in case you re so old you've forgotten them, or so young you've never played, here's a brief crash course in the very ea

A A oe Roh —_

— ——SC—C==__s{ CONGRATULATIONS? mms — | RECORD PROFITS

| | ARE ANNOUNCED.

Va GY YOU ARE

BONEW SUPPLIES

sy rules: Bee lo the top —square 60. The laws of chance dictate Be

> ho Ar many eel TS ¥o Lu ees | rh mo ve at any one tine if you land at the

foot ofa ladder you shoot up to its top. IT you land on the head ofa m@ snake you slither down to its tail. Asa further element o* chance = we've introduced the revolutionary AA squares — these are ex plained further on in the instructions

What you need: | Amstrad CPC computer, some human beings, a January copy of Amstrad Action; ec

a

w/00G000 IT 7O MAKE “ ANOTHER 4 )

founters: Christmas Hie goodwill(optional’

_. Totakepartinthisfestive fun, youfirsthavetotypeintheshort 3m mee Sting printed below. That's because Arnold takes care of all that

leqious dice rolling stull for you —as well as giving you some nice, @ and some nasty, surprises

Arnold doesn't. though, provide you with counters so you'll

: tii need io find enough buttons. iiddleywinks etc for however many Seas Players there are. There's no limit to the number of participants

except good sense. More:than four and things.could get.a little crowded :

First of all type in the listing. The program will ask how many

Sees Players wish to take part and will then prompt each oneinturn with fee =} Orward or Back?’ Thisisso that you can take advantage of tempt-

fees ing ladders which might lie behind rather thaninfronto

i Z T You if You

ee gooffthe board ateither end, you bounce back e.q. if you're on 57

fee and you throw a6, you'll qo forward to 60 then back three squares eee Pe a. ar ais i | af - a ant ss: 7" at hee i . : fee LO D2 Cian. The same pI! ciple apphes if you ao back at the start ee 1Owin you MUST land exactly on 60

fe acjain, the computer will prompt you. Basi me number something pleasant

oe Youcculc cét a nasty she

[Fristashite, Gh. al ALA ouare ie) ee up all Sorts of ~ossibilities

=

cally, you throw a high willhappen Throw alow number and

ie wea | ‘he ed aol ILE. B.

Landing on another player sends him

So : in or her back tothe start fm Louch life, isn’ tit?

fit far) S : “H = 41 COURSS,

the computer tells you to do something impo-

ee ssible — like moving back to the head of the nearest snake when mm You re onsquare | —just ignore the command.

The game prog ii ‘TF a OR py THEM 10 bos ; : : we | 10 RANDOMIZE TINE:CLE:INPUT"HOW many playera’}Psar poe © > AWS at FoR i=l 10 piCLS:PRINT*PLAYER’ i | ira . os TF #1 tiyéo THEN PRINT"Sorry, you ais 0 PRE or ib)?" <7 PRINT'Forward or back | | | ee Cent je="4" THER j$e"forward ELSE IF i 5) PRINTIPRINT “Move 4] * Ay PRINT CHRSIE) HCHROIB) *STROITT if evi THER PRINT’s' ELSE PRINT Pek ap FOR k={ TO BO0:MEXT:PRINT:PRINT" Have} chidt-W if you ve won! eo ise TNKEyS: IF ge" ul" : ; : SUE | f RWD?O.6 THER OM r G05 2 | ae sbi tae vari e{4 THEN PRINT" Go back’ a PRINT’ Adva 110 ceARS CINT(RMDELOR(¢-3-5)) 141: dieu 5) 120 PRINT (press any key to continue! 175 IF THKETS="" THER 125 120 WEXT i: GOTO 20

[50 §$2"60 backwards until you gam a jab #$="R155 a burn": #1 Li)e-]: Be

(70 #6=" Advance to the bax tan i jag #8= "have another turn:": a sper (oo f#e"Land on the player ahead mt Me 700 CLS: PRINT" CONGRATULATIONS fp hf te Wii. 910 IF IWKETS="" THEN 214 ELSE RU : a 7

eh) ly ry

ja 4 l ‘| are: fi) Pa

If you've fr

te

yund all that confusing, don't worry —the proqram ‘eee

| willprompt you at every step in your brilliant career, leaving you Ei

to enjoy the game. So go ahead and make that million.

oe gdpetd iad GOTO 120

wEW if="backward " ELSE 40

COR is WOHG+: peTHT IRWDEG) t1 a ‘sowtt anare'tt - | ii qe

ed on ah AA Square ly! nj ?'sPRIAT® (prees

ge IF iscoty’ THEN 8 rey 200 ELSE IF it="n’ THEN 130: ELSE scyty" THE

repace’ |: LF s)1 THEN PRINT’s!* ELSE PRINT

; a= 72 RETURM ueucneT’ "Hiss two burns! '": eiiberds! so ikiak ie down it! ‘PETURM

Go up it! *:RETURE

-PRINT:PRINT* To play again press 2 Hey:

i B/tns, Sf ic HE Ona ri ytOls, Fee me | Ye) Ka TL Ca FA Sore ate, «= ai) Es

ry a Pe 20 fae ‘ he. 40, 150,160,170, 100, 1902 PRINTS PRINT eee fee eier

aan” i tee ee ee ee ee ee 6 ee ee | a aE han ahataPa Fy Pg a. A nee eR al Sa Dine Raia eta a RR RTT aM ON MESES REE SRN ER Re naar Art anesthe hear ea ae eee Ra “a . ee aoe =o, i ie Aa ep? ay = Ba Surat Be =a Se eee faa ey arma nate me ERR er ace ne nce ce i

ee -_ lt’s often said that business is a game — but a deadly ©

ik serious one. We're giving you the chance to find out how ae much fun it can be too, with our Arnold variation onthe | _

classic game of Snakes and Ladders. Your aim —to make

a

eek ie pare oral | ene 5!

Sian :

ME. THe

Aly | 45, \5128 WITH (pan)

<

F 13 You § ONCE “ay

foe t DAK, WITHA ,»~B2 dhe a

~) | VENGEANCE 1 yOH DEAR NoBODY wants ES

; TO BUY YOUR wristwArcy | sgt TIN Cinfe

rm on gh. ‘Let nt onl. Trembling ae printed | sue, and OT

and ite early circulis may become rather tedious. ft is @x- pensive al £9.95 and just falis snort ofan AA Rave ln niy view. N.D. Riske, Newbury

HI RISE, Bubble Bus | AA Rating 73%

| ani on't, then now wr. IEyOu< beste of -opini “i

ou should ait &

Nice graphicsand nice game, but dep. Not af qood as

ds bai.

nd red Herries! release, Wisar ee

fhe provision of the rear-view mrrorsisan excellent touch. Not as fast as Rally if, but more of a challenge.

get phting

it’s helpful to pean a

ing like the Se the gam

| possible

St thai y© see our reviews: Y

SOUL OF AROBOT, Mostertronic

AA Rating 84%

Extremely good graphics and animation with completely flicker-free graphics, none ol

which overlap, Mastertronic’s best-ever game. [t puts most full price games to shame

| Joe Le Sage, London

Bit close to Nonferraqueous this

although none can complain | about that. Sound is very uncder- used, which seems to be the

done. Plenty of stayia power in the size ofthe game but the jume conlrol is very [rustrating

| Nick Chaplin, Maidonhoad

oudon fit. Why not add

seeedtoexpl aig your own t rating? gely to’ ours!

, cofanenveloP® rset TA!

Xs) the

Legere clo ior oe

Some:

A far better game than Nonlerra- queocus. The graphics are colourful and very detailed, the sound is qood and the qame is more fun to play.

David Baxter, Carlukea

Yery

FIGHTING WARRIOR,

|'Melbourne House

AA Rating 75%

ihisaian pectanons celient b see-ihrough characters Sone isnt Pull fe orchestral overall 4 good adaicive game which [kept qomng back fo vy stedstits) MOEN a am vy iteltert atti hal

i quite Jive Up iO my eX fhe animarron is a@x-

¢ and the

pay pil ii

MEXICO ‘86, Qual-Soft

AA Rating 68%

Excellent football management simulation, with nurnerous skill and sophistication options

| Gripping decisions can be made

during, as well as before, mal ches. if the scenario becomes re- petitive, Qual-Soft have adcdmiur ably left the program unprotec ted, so one can fiddle around Highly recommended.

Bevittec melee

6OJANUARY 1986 AMSTRAD ACTION tetnepeapiesr:

uri aen' (ike the idea of

For sheer racing thisis excellent

‘ARGO NAVIS, Kuma

Rating 6 1 %o

Cuma’s best Amsirad effort yet! A graphically good, arcade search and collect, shoot and destroy game. A good idea thal has been well implemented. The large playing aréa and complex plat- form puzzies make this a hard dame to crack

David Baxter, Carluke

3D GRAND PRIX, Amsoft

AA Rating 87%

You almost fee! you are driving al oiverstone or any other of ie other six tracks, Good colourful graphics and realistic sound make usa Formula / game

| K. Stafferton, Northampton

possessing much of the excite ment and frustration of whe reai thing, However, tf im ay mat Nave much fasting appeal for many as there ts no track editing factiity

Gery Hughes, Cranleigh |

Great graphics | sound, exhilerating action — this | Game takes Dole position.

gqood _

Mia Di Les

| David Baxter, Carluke

FORMULA ONE 1SIMULATOR, Mastertronic AA Rating 73%

excellent driving game graphics of you, but the ywing

| An Greal other care aren't mind-bik:

| But the sound is pretty rubbish

Joe Le Sage, London

| BATTLE OF BRITAIN, IPSS AA Rating 81%

| really ike the air combat part of fhe game, (he qraphics are great and ihere are pienty of game op

tions. A thinking man’s version of Beach Head. Indeed. what that game could, and should, fave bean like

David Baxter, Carluke

THE NEVER-ENDING | STO RY, Ocean

AA Rating 82%

/ m nol much of an adventure ad- diet, bul fenjoved tl g raphiee sare superp, } Hse of The cours, an the Deguuung is qreal, Lie qame Is a must for adventure aqaicts and for non-adventurers duce

Donald Sharey, Scunthorpe

is Cae FEL ay

Th Fj fo Te fi

é tt | ‘ne PER fi

A

Mf ie Wn

3° MICRODISKS FOR THE AMSTRAD

10 Top Quality CF2 3” Microdisks with FULL LIFETIME WARRANTY

ony 3

Price inclusive of V.A.T.

Delivery .. FREE throughout the U.K.

Export Orders and Bulk Order Enquiries Welcome §& 5)” & 33” Disks Also Available.

Please Send Cheques/Postal Orders to:- “> (Dept AA )

a. 7 ’ Rh 2 oo oh = = ee aa SUB DISKS LIMITED

=== = a Li

11 Oundle Drive, Nottingham, NG8 1BN Telephone (0602) 782310

AMSTRAD ACTION JANUARY 1986 61

ee ee ee

THEY SOLD A MILLION The Hit Squad, £9.95 cass, £12.95 dish

Set in a tropical jungle this game started Sabremanon the adventures which later took him to Knight Lore and the forthcoming Nightshade, His task is to recover four sec- tions of amulet from the forest maze and then escape from the jungle.

There are 256 screens packed with colourful vegetation and a whole host of dan- gerous animals. Sabreman is armed only with his trusty sword with which tofight off the wild animals but there are some other things that will belp him on his way.

The four pieces of amulet are spread randomly around the maze, although this is limited to a number of regular locations, They are picked up by passing over them, as are all the other objects m the game. Most obrects like swords, shields, treasure chests and doubleons don't do anything when picked up except increase your points total but one object gives you extra lives.

The jungle paths along which you move are all either horizontal or vertical with the occasional clearing. Sabreman waves his sword in front of him and this leaves him vul- nerable to attack when moving up or down paths. The animals that threaten youcome ina wide range from harmless-looking cuddly beasts to the dreaded Sabre Wuilf itself. This

prowls about and should be avoided at all

costs since itis indestructibie

Youcan'tkillhipposand rhinos that thun- |

der along paths either but they can be turned back by your sword. Alithe other animals can be exploded with a quick thrust though This doean't clear the screen for long since more beasts will materialise to chase you. Another danger 1s.a ball of fire that appears if Sabre

man spends too. long on one screen. This too

62 JANUARY | 986 A MSTRAD ACTION Colourful corke:

has to be avoided like the plaque.

Help is at hand in the form of coloured orchids which flower occasionally; if you pass through them they give you a strange power. Yellow ones make you sick, killing everything else onscreen but holding youup for precious seconds. Ked ones siow you down but make you invulnerable. Blue ones also make you immune Dutspeed you up con- siderably. Purple flowers reverse the key or joystick controls but again make you invi- ncibie. White flowers merely remove the effect of any of the other four

The game is mostly just amatterofcharg- ing around killing things with little brainwork involved except for mapping the game. The graphics are very colourful with zappy sound effects making a pleasing game that may take a while to complete

Good animation and variety of

Demanding arcade action as you battle to stay alive. .

The orchids are a very nice touch.

Little brainwork involved. Annoying deaths when going up or

‘=

Beach-Head This classic battle involves you in an assault

ona dictator sfortress. You face naval engagemnets, air aitacks and even deadly tank battles as you battle against the oddsto destroy the fortress of Kuhn-Lin.

The game calls for severa! different skilis and tactics for its varied stages and these, combined with some nice graphics, earn ita place among the bestsellers.

__AA RATING Kali ie

ee |

Daley Thompson's Decathlon

ryt

5 Gag . are | JT e LOT + r 2 iTas = oo WN (Tying eller scores and records in the ten vents. There's lots of colour) ICHONn as you put Vaiey Ali ten events are there wilh some ding a degree of skill as wellas hard | rk Is yvery sickly produced and as they } a it ir yt O Toray 7) as - |

Raving beauties AMSTRAD ACTION JANUARY 1986 63

pTOON ADVENTURE

wiijaid IN ...

ty Ki,

SPECTRUM 48K AMSTRAD 464

SPECIAL EDITION a}

GARGOYLE G AM

RENEGADE

Kuma, £6.95 cass, £13.95 disk, joystick or keys

Kuma's prodigious production of Amstrad Programs connnues apace but unfortunat ely [ think this one shows some signs of not hav- Ing | the sort of thought put into it that tt could

have. It's a oo. of 3D Berzerk where aman charges round a rebot-filed maze in search of objects and ¥ Wi vith little elgé to worry about except falling as. eep

The maze is constructed of 3D room

with the fron? walls remoy ed so that you an se6é into them. Viewed from this angle above the action your man will move diagonally up anc down but horizontally leftand right. The doorways appear justas black squares in the Wall and w alk mi g into them flicks you to the next screen. Within each room you are likely to find only t three types of thing: yourself, Some nasties and the octasionai static object,

SECOND OPINION For about ten minutes / almost enjoyed ths pein as! plodded around Diasting the odd nasty and mapping my progress Then ie aru of the ATES and ine tedium of ie scenar ore anda more hea ee Ses ne. Bo sacle mse inand stayed put Kuma fave done much Detter inan tus in the past. Let's hope they will in the furure

The task is to proceed through the ten levels of the game collecting a particular group of objects on each one that will allow

you to unlock adoorto anew section of maze. | On the tenth level isa crystal which you have

ta gel back out of the maze.

The nasties take various forms but stay in familiar Movement patterns and are Spill into two groups — shooting and non- Brecsab They are fairly easily dealt with until yo counter them in large numbers in a ail

space. You have a gun with which you can | shoot most hostile presences but avoidance |

is usually possible as well. If you sustain enough bullet hits or walk into a nasty then you lose a life. These can be replaced by picking up the skulls in the maze which give an exira life even though they look very menacing.

Movement 15 unusual since iLoperates on

This is the starting 3D hoor — mot weary

irs.piring.

an Asteroid basis of rotating lefi/right and

moving forward or back, which may take some geting used to. One nice feature of the game 18 that occasionally picking up an ob- ject will mean that the maze is pesmi oie possibly eventrapping youina sm all section,

The graphics and sound effects are the

game s major probiems with both being on the crude side leaving very little to get excited about. The size of the game is more impressive but with the gameplay being simple moving and shooting even this doesn 1 count for much. Even at £6.95 this is

Overpriced and | found it greatly disappointing,

BW G oOo o D See ee » Large playing area. Aue a aa

» Crude graphics.

» Unimpressive sound effects.

— Unusual control.

> Little to do but walk around shooting things and picking up objects.

Livery :1') bg

Bug Byte) Argus Press, £2.95 cass, joystick or

keys

Bug Byte is avery old software house that Pit the dust a while back but now they've been reincarnated as a budget label. This 1s their first Amstrad release. It's reminiscent of games like Lig Dugand Cuange, where you dig in the earth to callect objects and avoid monsters, and has the same scrt of panic na- ‘ure with some exploration thrown in

As Dogsbody you have to resmue |82 puppies from the castle stronghold of Lr Dogmush, The castle is a maze composed of 25 screens within which are contained the puppies in amall groups, 90 gremlins and robots, flowers and rocks. The maze is co!

, posed of flick screens so that often It is dif-

ficult to Know what you will encounter when moving off one screen and onto another

The groups of puppies are dotted all over the maze, many in the hardest to get at locations of course but flashing to indicate their presence. Most of the maze tunnels are filled with earth with the occasional clear area where all gremlins and robots may he in wail. -_ These nasty pieces of work are the de- fenders of the stronghold and if Dogsbody touches them he loses a life. Gremlins and robots are best avoided completely but sometimes there is no alternative but to re- lease one into the maze. They are very per- sistent and will chase you all over so that they

Smarter than the average mg AMSTRAD ACTION JANUARY 1986 65

will have to be dealt with

There are two main ways of dealing with this: either by crushing them witha rockor by mocking the trail behind you with a fower The rocks are fortunately harmless to Dogs- body so that he can stand underneath them or have them land on his head with injury

SECOND OPINION

This is an old idea but none the worse for hat. {ts execuled with a certain amount of skili and charm, and is going tobe far fron

| | easy to crack. While 25 screens might not | | seom a for these days, each one is

| | progressive! ¥more dificul and will | require a lot of attention and speed to crack

Flowers can be used to block the way by removing the earth from above them and they will grow into the space. Again there is no danger to the canine hero who can stand above a growing plant without fear The graphics and sound are nothing to write home about but the game's quality lies n the addictiveness of the action. As you qtaciually explore more of the maze w pecon mes areal challenge trying to WOrkK out how to complete new areasand getthe timing the robots and gremins This certainly won't be an easy Game (6 complete because it needs some luck as well as skill m choosing where to go

right 1 avoid

Lots of boulders, plonts, graamiins and puppies to be decll with.

G o o D - £ e

» Tough arcade challenge. » 25 diabolically designed screens to

make life difficult.

® Nice features in the boulders and plants.

eS eee See eS

Flick screen Maze can cause frustrating deaths. » 25 screens isn't that big a playing area.

STAYING power fees me AA RATING Lixo sees

= ————— = a 2 ee

L 4 —

——= ; SSS

—

—_ =e. —— ee

= oe = = i ee eee =

=

SS pr

ASSAULT ON PORT STANLEY

Amsolt/Shirekilo. 8.95 cass, £12.95 cass. joystick only

Amsoftt must be hoping that the Falkiand's war will do for this game what it did for the Tory party's standing im the polls. It takes the form of a three stage attack WHISEe Fyoue control

iship or a helic opler as you 1m get 5 Port Manley

The frsl stage places you in control of a Warship asit steams towards the islancs., As it slices ils way through the exc husio: L zone It ncounters lots ol ships intent on Diowing it out of the 1 making them fair game for

rant Te th res

wale! your Guns. Once Neus Will send a ship 16 the bi om (along with ali hands), only to be replaced by ano ther one. If the enemy get close enough they ese) and if damage reaches submerged

16 SHIDS ar (ne Si MDs are |

will shell your ve

OG per cent youre so much

Scrap met ah Wher

Stari

ithe ships gel close to you they:

Sto =

“GEOFF CAPES | STRONGMAN

Martech. £6.95 cass, joystick or keys

key £ wshine to determine Geoff's 1. This gives you a percentage fiess you shor Shag share 80 and 90 if

66 AMSTRAD ACTION JANUARY 1986

SsMnxing range.

and get close enough to the i

tO cure mae lite quickly, making them harder lo hit and allowing more ships io get F vithin if YOu Survive long @ NOU

glance WwW h ich is

=

Oncoming eneny wesceds

rihan direction, r the horizon

to harass you. You can't shoot can move of screen v wh ere ae VOU

+t long after ence untering | the planes

you reach the island, at which pointa helicop- T takes off from the slup to challenge the mond And + thir d stages of the qame. The nelooptar may also take off earlier but this have enough fuel to make itte the island, After taking off the chap- re heaptes on the waves of enemy figh-

q outte pre tect ‘their’ islands,

rhe pl fly in from the top of the

1 i as _ i ri ei a Pedal GRbtteiT) T. CGMS 2

screen while your helicopter flies up frarm the bottom to meet them They move down

ee eh

and you have them. ifthe choppe

i Giagonally, shooting as they qo i shoot them down or avoid T Gets destroyed it's back inl chopper if the ship had already proceeded far enough. Fuel runs cut continually through this stage but ii there is enoucn! nslaught then VOU MmOVe onto & Aver Aaa section. This in again viewed from above. The

chopper has to be quiced wn @ Scrolling

ther

to the shir

e Les = i Ive ines

ffl saidso.

‘Barrel loading n next ‘and ee Geof re ally starts to get going, ‘having to pied back and forth across the screen dumping barrels —imto-a lorry. Manic: wagging qets him to the barrel where he impolitely squats. poking his bottom im your direction. and you waddle ~ againtopickup the barrel. Then you allocate / muscles, ae directed t0-qet hin to the lorry

Phe oar Toll has Geoff throw: ing a poor, _ detencolees eee onto its roof,

‘Crmscles with be used next: The tog chop pice = | tures an axe over alog which you have to get ie - rout Itismade ap of three differentareas; 2) SOR, Dard, and knotted, and you have to-find= “| |

the weakeat area. ‘The axe: moves ieft-and round bell isthe fifth event: youdont haveto -- eee hits speed being determined by the - you < “effort bar. Pressing fire puts ina chop. Thisis © | oe y the least interesting of the events ‘both for gameplay and Ao seme but don’ ES

| ing dary ote ese

again dene through the allocation of miacle —

= ring it but just achieve a certain height by S Waggiling to Increase effort and pressing ie ;

| SECOND OPINION -You don ‘thave fo have muscles

whereupon the windscreen shatters. This is.

strength and effort but if you make a mistake: — the car starts to roll backwards. The-faing=:..

atthe night moment to hil. pas Last is the Sumo wrestling which is ao “tough event of timing as Geoff and another” fighter squat in a circle and try to force each: :. other out of it. This one can be rather frustrat-— ing and I'd have preferred astraigh! waqgie. oy but it does offer a different ohlenge: Ht see 3 can master it. sree Get through that jot and then you" t have P to dio it all again, only it gets to —— tainly has something a little different from if: the| usual joystic oe nee a eho prove RE fs aera

2) Sd play this game, bur if would help: The wag-

> | ging is not fer the weak of arm or faint of oA heart, even ifitisn't quite as furious as thase |

Do 4) “pe Decathlon games The events are novel,

hand the graphics aré not bad ~ Geoff is an

figure: {wasn't keen on the

ees ta | museleicons, though: Hey are pretry repuls-

oe etojookat: The main drawback to the game

(Gs the dimited qamber of events, which may Cees eo eceae dem haa willlose interest,

ee es ee Sc Sa eae Bae a!

» Gets very tough and demands plenty of skill towards the end.

» No “Argie-bashing” nonsense in the instructions or game.

river. avoidin 7 ships and harraqe DaCOns on tie way, The s¢reen scrolis downwards and the helicopter can move forward or back on screen as well as lefi anc right. The boats and balloons move left and right across the river and aqain you either have toshoot them OT avoid them.

Fuel continues to run out : 1 ihe chopper has to be landed at one of the nding Stages thal appear on the river banks. Fuel and men can be picked up here

SECOND OPINION

ihe utterty tasteless nie is nol redeamed by

ae ee a a 2 th es the Cane ise, fhe frst sequence is done

ne

rile uty F : bu wre net iy B A 0 N E Ww 3

second two are ee Simitehions of ine olc

a

| Atar Lame River Raid, There je virhn tay

1 = t ad Bi, rye Lara LF ee eee 2 ae cy oe i} OTn iTk wd } bad & rot ¥ ial Lk AC ee or See Re Fe

| » No original ideas in the game. _®» Simple gameplay and graphics for first

get haifway through the fina! stage. Nesthe

The Men previding bonus points i you re h as a the enc of haa wm This ie the shest as ? Gi ra ones nor sound are distinguished. Let's two stages. i

HE GMO ae Sige | MES 1S Tie LOuUg eS 0 | hope they come up with something abit » Contender for tackiest game title of the ihree ‘stages as you have to watch both the | “ere ey come up with someting a bi year.

more iferestng tt fey bring us Attack on » Third stage can become overly frustrating.

fuellevel and the river tr flic 2 ahead of you one slipancdit': back to the start ofthe river

Goose Greer

> Good combination ofwaggling and > Varied events which appearedin tne : . } ; Muscle allocation icons are novel.

= - ¥ fe ee es adi eis

spe tans

haha ie a - , Bes wage ;. : Pabedan ae 2 . = . a

» woreel couniry AMSTRAD ACTION JANUARY 1986 67

—

——_

ONMBSTOWNE Amsoft Premuoer, £8.95 cass, £12.95 disc. jooystick or keys

staircases 1: a 2 aiferort eet ‘Each ie pel ion

| puzzles are far from easy and thi ‘ ee siobenine ee:

to.avaid them, Some however homein on ae ee

and push yeu offgereen unless you're carry- =~

ing the-right ébject and perform the emer Scansene nce ee . action. Ghoste will drain your ede dS which foe ee en pe is indicated at the top of the sci reen by aspar- porsbieeesiee i kler that slowly: ajith WTS i

a ishment is needed: - aisha he saree Extra cree ee

| dynamite which avtomatioal Supply when picked up: All} other: } found lying about. he-pisce may fi and you'll have to find omtwh

: problems have to be spree ed:

186 exactly what’ you' "Pee Fe ry: 1 . findout what it's OF: Sas mole

* Horrible when graphict overlap. ieee S Sefectanathomnrewiarimightde

| ce —s STAYING POWERF . Suinenanes Yi RATING

68 JANUARY 1986 AMSTRAD ACTION cirr—tuciot “eee a ibe future . ln ee ms =

ea!

é

"T he massive, desolate factory that services the EARTH orbits silently in the vast DARK WASTES of space.

STRANGE THINGS have been observed from EARTH, very strange indeed as there are NO HUMANS on the factory, it is maintained and controlled by a clever series of ROBOTS, programmed only 1o serve.

How could the ROBOTS possibly be SABOTAGING happenings on EARTH unless they are somehow being REPROGRAMMED? Intrepid investigation is the only way to find oul exactly what is going on...and it must be YOU!

290 rooms of EXPLORATION, PUZZLES to resolve and CURIOUS ROBOTS to meet. GRAPHICALLY STUNNING, full of ACTION and AMUSING encounters, this is arcade adventuring at its absolute peak.

This what they were saying about STRANGELOOP before they even saw this version sfrongeloop is unaque, graphically impressive. vost, and devious, in short, brill.” Personal Computing Weekly

MOU Ve gor fo use your brain as weil as your joysiick...Strangeloop graphics are superb..a real Screen Star if agp one” Commodore User ‘This iS a very tig and supenor arcade adventure..an elegantly designed game” Your Commodore.

cn A : eo. | eo ,@ mere @f 4.08. |. - 06% 2 oo 2 2% Oo @e

SareERy. So e** ~9 i é: : eine A Py re * 6 ® 7 = S rg oe: Oar ae e° cc ~~ @

,

— 6Uue

> 4

>= Remember “SORCERY”, this year's most ACCLAIMED title for the AMSTRAD? Well VIRGIN GAMES

unrivalled reputation for AWiSTRAD software is upheld again with the Gang of Five's latest MASTERPIECE

Evil, hellish oo ponent!

Colour Egy piian Bet yr oun

(hese can have arming pponent

Oe ving S011 5 a flase Oi

Detawlse Toul

Fighnng warrler _ 7 Feme, energy if they strike you. This means you | | : ime have to duck or jump them, which in the mid- dle ota hant eaves yo Wide open to att tack If our Opponent! duc is or jumps then il olives you the chance to gelin some ree bi

more ifs Deore You or k

t ¥

you thought Eqypt was all about romantic ae : a se Yate he fchters have some curious habits boat aes Gown the Nile, b at nd inass smilk == —— . ee 2e “One of hem ieape into he aif anc Spits his il

and tiring with L.eopa nen Wink agan _* | _ ail ndue out at you while another one shieids De ause Nnere 115 ail about bioed, quis an a Se : hy oar ely iwelf with two scaly wings and does tying hz vita pac pie up witha sword. It's all.in the ae i kicks at you. This last beast isthe one you wil! name of rescuing a beautiful princess buf = a OT ee —- i ys nter in the temple but dealing with him ion t tat sentimentality lice tt re. mn you fe, . “5 =37 - ‘ | Were ery rae! Way 7 | ! | ‘ Me . Sy 4 uicing away with the sword was very You control Fightng Warrior, the-chan Wa M,,)) % , fi : i, enjoyable at first but as you progress to the non Of Eqypt, who has to Date pasta whole | Th | J ~~ ie —4 epee ana piay More games il tends to ‘get sarlies Oldevilishopponents in order toresc ' | Tl as | —. imey. There's certainly plenty of challenge a temple In Which ihe Princess is IMpnsaned i: = = bul! dicin't find this as fast or addictive as fist Most ofthe action takes place aqainstascrol- @ | Y | | sul] a good game though with the graphics ) = —— ~~ inimation being its best point BW

SECOND OPINION

GE oO OO OD N EF W 53 Detailed and colourful scrolling backgrounds. Goodanimation on characters. ‘Satisfying level of violence to relieve

TOV 6S Of TDN OT OWI DU IeSSse aren | & Tough long-term game task.

Very Usenl in fi '

OO Wn Wii eat SLOCES SITike ano ine ifs ————___— =

| 5 on your oppom ne Little variation in fighting task. hammering YOur sword across Gameplay seems rather slow. my shead may notbe wholesome, bu Vases seem to be just pot luck.

re in the right mood it can cb

=

SCOMGUTS nc all NODE 1S 105) | 2 kl i — he “ q : ee ee ak ee ee ae a Le ih 7 a = a ing backdrop as you walk towards the tem no an OPPSnent Wil TeDienisn some or yc pie. The scenery and enemies that come to energy bul tough opponents may leave’

fight you are cotourful and very cetalied very weak indeed. In these circumstances

the Aghling = the real Titty! Ty Tou Fimay Fesorr ho One OF Te rrecgic

_ erie es the triple crown or even the grand slam! Includes every feature you would expect from an excellent arcade rugby simulation game.

AMSTRAD 464 (664, 6128) CASSETTE

£7.95

ALADDIN’S CAVE In this exciting arcade/adventure you must overcome the evil wizard by collectina objects and spells which allow you to transform into

different lifeforms . . .

AMSTRAD 464 CASSETTE

£7.95

OBSIDIAN

AN excellent arcade/adventure in which you must use your physical and mental skills to overcome the security systems, avoiding the mutant aliens, to re-activate the engines of your asteroid spaceship. AMSTRAD 464 (664, 6128)

CASSETTE WAS 5

_ Se en ee a sl

a/ Prine

4

* i ales beige

4 sig ees ‘ie Nae Ti

ARTIC SOFTWARE | Is available from all good stockists — ies - or direct from

ti s comoutiog Main a 2 Brandesburton, Driffield,

+8

e 4. as f

a

ee. Pee

= ue ova eer i mie

a Mery ta ange ey, Payrt

ry :

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te. | a te) oe ee

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What Amstrad Action said: * “AA Rave”

* “You'll be playing it until the early hours. * “Nice 3D highlights”.

w “Very long seasons with plenty to do”. *® “ideal for football fanatics”.

Featured in the Bulletin 1000 video - shown at your local independent retailer.

rear t vei i ha wi Th B

Big League F.A.P. £6.95

Available from all good software stockists. For the 464 only.

Viper Software Limited,

Eardley House,

182-184 Campden Hill Road,

London W87AS

Micronet 800 8 Herbal Hill, London ECIR 5E] Telephone: 01-278 3143

@ Does your micro chat to 70,000 people across the UK?

@ Can your micro interview pop stars, hackers and doyennes of the computer industry?

@ Can your micro provide the answer to your technical and software problems?

® Could your micro send and receive telex’s worldwide?

@ Does your micro do your shopping for you-—and have it delivered to your door?

® ls your micro an answering machine, delivering your private mail whenever you log-on?

NO?.................... Shame!

------7

To: Micronet 500, 8 Herbal Hill, London EC! Please send me a brochure on Micronet 800

Name

PMetR en eh ee eee Ge.

Telephone No Ape Micro

AA JAN 35

AMSTRAD ACTION JANUARY 1986 73

x =

ms

| Will the DK Tronics memory expansions really turn 464s and 664s into 6128s—ata stroke? James Hartley sees what an extra 64K can do for | Arnold.

3 e | 64 owners cast envious tea 4 The: software

One of the neo extra 64K of uted fn was Science thecal nee os Sa abe ema 7 : Rats eo oO hese a j in the taole rhe 0 Tam F

6128! eens cupped: allowing yor t0 | reloca iD. and (pro 6 1 S01 You hav cise system you Cat away ent screens and store eer And make a disc back-up by following the instructions in the manual :

e swao ut o n F uality of the manual is super ae etting that intern it i n, 664 owne?®rs in [and @xplains tne functioning 16464 owne’s are: : pos they paid poe in the very easily understood terms. Even if something pose com but go ot nothing sess are DOL et LSU, Yu SOU Dawe 2) }TOUDIeG if all those &* | Amstrad upgre™" n officia

ence of a wae ‘nto fill the 99P+--

=, Sow

= OF h SR SiaF SGP. ae -

ANG fl itv very cely they ess too. Fora mere £49.95 you geia very attractive little unit that slips into your disc expansion port. looking even more at home there sian lo excellent design) than Amstrad's own rear-end add-« itbrings you 64K of RAM which can elther be paged in direct frc om BASIC or controlled via a series of RSX commands (bar commands) loaded in from tape. If you've gol a 164/964, it gives you a very large measure of 61246 compat Sieh gars | binty orate woul this later), andifyou're already inthe 612d club, | aap Lat ae | ee e ltg ste you a bewildering array of memory opt ions. Sounds tem- | Pe weplied with the 6128, but a pting en? ee ae - tre ee swith using hove to be very cdever. The DK The unit is smal! and compact and plugs into the disk drive on Tronics software makes ito piece of , expansion slot. It sits recap In place | unlike a certain Beene Peah: coke. Using the | SAVEW poeanty, nlerface ] could mention)so won tdump your data by wopblina Fea aeAardth rico

Where's the memory?

P Shek} up the machine, the firstthing 1 aia wasto check how | much memory I had available and -— ooops! No difference! What's | going on?

Those readers olatechnicald SITlon Willalready know the answer, butfor the benefit of o1 thers abrateiia nation isinoraer anyone in the know can ain Ps LY sup to th enextpa ara gra iph. The 26 inthe Amatrad can only talk to 64K of memory at any | me tie OT

What do you do with it?

fare three basic ways ol using the extra memory to store jata Divatiaalfa io tine iatescty oa aieace Sa" VING SCI eens, either textor graphic, which you wantto beable toreload into the dispiay

a nole reason thal the bi gest mt umber it can icount 1 ;65535. | area late Normally tt eonly way toc : othisif you had f réxample get ro und this, extra memory has to be treate 41 spec cially and | & pretty picturé on the monitor, Would be to save it to disc or -

ate Thisisdone by rreatinnythe 64K of main RAM asa series o! four oe g Each blook can beswitc hed outs arid ani ot sth b lock Sf extension & iM (normally hidden behind it) can be switched in When you switch outa block, the data initisn't lost—it'sjust hidden from view, This means that you can fill one block with data, hice it, switch in another block to give yourself more room, and then switch Dack aqain

rd SrOLiTs a qangay, Dut it ian t quile that

worse — tape. However, if you've installed the DETronics RSX soltware all you have to doistype ISAVES.n shee nis the number of one of the blocks of extra RAM. As soos d above, RAM is arranged in 16% chunks, so that means you have 4 16K blocks Waiting to be used in your little box at the back of the machine | olnce a screen is made up of exactly (eee of date you can save 4 | Screens in the aide -On RAM and then flip between them at your

leisure. You can recall a4 saved screen by entering | LOADS.n

SIMplée in practise First

getting access to the extra memory involves some nifty pro- | wherenhasthe same significance as it did before. and hey presto, gramming, and second (and most important for most people) you | there's your old display back acain san use that €xira memory to HOw se meg epee programs. So Next, there are the |LOADD and |SAVE “ commands, which

= ls

hat can you do with it? The good news is that DKTronics supply eh anuns hthe RAMpack that atdoes all the hard wore for you

| Operate rather like the SAVE “‘fllename’ .B command in BASIC. These commands take three parameters with an optional fourth |

the DR Tronics expansi

Z4/ANUARY 1986 AMSTRAD ACTION Santa's favourite res

the moment it seems unlikely that 4 deal will be struck eaves 464/604 owners who wish to run programs using -such as Wordstar or Supercaic 2 ~ two alternatives, fwhichare unpleasant. They can try and find someone with 6.g.a 6128 owner and copy the digs this is not only awkwkta, but downright ile qal, Or they can buy a copy of CP iM

Plus— which will probably be so expensive that they might as well have gone ouland Basha € 512 3 in the first place

Summary

if We JUL tat) a 401 ol pt ar pit that reqdulres extra storage space, or you | the s of pop-down menus {see the box eisewhere in phis rick &) OF animated screens (created by JSWAPping rapidly from one to another ), then this peripheral stands head and shoulders above the rest. On the other hand, if you rea 464 owner in need of extra memory, you might consider selling your machine ana Sg he standard 6128, You'll pay |} more, of cOUrs®, but for some people the cast-iron guarantee of total compatinility may be worth it

o64 owners Could be forgiven for feeling diffe: ‘ently. [Their remeintnant at the sight otthet 126 might well drive them to get this package instead - particularly since ihe iow Seco or hand Value of | the machine makes trading up 16 the 6128 less desirable. This unit

Suld qo some way to answering the prayers ol some very angry

Lee 5

=

(see ihe table) and might! be rather difficult for a BASIC program-

=a if 7 = = i fr T ln le en ee = ak 7 TCE = = — | mei t Tar be Li hw ee | i BL ak iL. 14 it bh idl ex = =} il bd de a

here are Hearlhy Wrilten secoons ¢ UnIng HOW arrays ana

. “ee ; : = u rom yo ur adcl-on RAN

Ate Fk. 4 afek a ey eer = a ; ! | nus in JT TT atl qT im bod w edd ld ate = hee read 7

ai Fort F 0k Lise ei ee cy yet - ee, 2 es he yee fo = +. om | > & = i = A 4 = ey

Lili aes ie i‘ Ive ttf Leo TS OER soe eh ae iG a as Li. Po aha a Se _ Ar £ nella if ae Mfiifonew — ur dt programmers Fol example, if you DiMension a large array u my a ot J Sn ae ee : 7 ==

BASIC, you eat up a lot of memory and risk running out of space ay , as T= = | aS a ae | Fo t be : Te ie = 7 ag | Fm" -. ome = With the extra KAM you can hide itaway until You need it, leaving

MOre spate OF YOU Main Drocram

61 An Emulator?

Fin aly there's the very intriguing |EMULATE command

whiche ~reticwire - Tae be Asai

ee ee a . Ol ladle

i164 to behave hke a 6) 28. This means

Boi |

UP a 7h Fy oo, cS Ttird. oe ed a, aa > b Pe 7 = a en £ ¥ BL CA LL= a] oe af (a8 = ik a! icy = such 2 he ; the ennanc Ce ¥eT Sion Ot

Campbell Systems’ Masterfve or Tasword 6izh on a smaller ma- chine and cet all the benefits of the extra space and flexibility. For

this reason alone the extra memory is worth fg isaapinaes. You need to be careful he re, however, since compatibility |/ with 6128-specific software is obviously not quaranteed —though! did have no trouble running CP} M | Plus and other 6126 utilities on my 464 with the RAMpac«k fitted

However, it's debatable how useful the 6128 compatibility ac tually is 1 st software houses make sure that their Amstrad sin ftware will run on all Amstrad machines, for obvious reasons and [think thata number of 6128 owners willagree with me when! say that so far! have found little practical use for the extra memory on the larger machine — at least where running applications soft Ware is concermed (with the notable exceptions of the two programs mentioned above

CP/M Plus

There is of course CP/M Plus, the operating system from Digital Research that makes the 6128 such a powerful ‘serious computer. Suya6les—ora EG WS si and you get it free hes ine machine. But the snag us that, if you have a 464/664, how are you going to gé@l your Dutts on a copy af it? It may come tree with the 6128, butjust you try going out and buying a copy for your 464/694 Both you and your T walle’ will be in for a nasty shock. | Losetes che nen ere cee ear Se Se anager e ob Soe

DK Tronics have b een in negotiation with Digital Research | Sogtermusssmecnt nna erence Mee eA eccrh Lea enn in atlas neo aboutthe possibi iit vy ofoffering CP/M Plus withthe memory expan- | Baeeam Aiaves ah tice Siac ieee nee eee gente A ee pe

Z

? sar’ sisal The organiomagazice AMSTRAD ACTION JANUARY 1986 75 wher pat mm)

aia

ae aa

a ramet, Pm steel eg ale an ee a Porat

sateen = = =

ec ieeete ere raceece eee ae = senna = = cali aaa we Ze |

[ts Bp esat he beginning of the book?

a 4 Oe a a e

+ he ees

ae eg soa ate BE i Orig

6 Detind the whole business?

ee ae C eee as ee Oe a sna, Fen aa

In a gesture of monstrous munificence the mighty mas- ters of the budget game, Messrs. Mastertronic— producers of those AA Raves Nonferraqueous and Soul of aRobot- are offering 25 Amstrad Action readers the chance to win not just a copy of the merry funny micro guide Micro- mania, by Messrs. Charles Platt and David Langford, but also vouchers to the value of £4.00—redeemable at Boots for the software of your choice.

By my feeble reckoning, this means you could pur- chase TWO Mastertronic games and still have 2p change. What you'd do with it | can't imagine, but it sounds like a pretty good deal.

All you have to do is SPOT THE DIFFERENCE be- tween pictures 1 and 2 below, in which two evil pirates are caught in the act of trying to make off with some of Mastertronic's latest software.

Puta circle round each difference you spot on picture 2, and write below it the total number of differences there are. Then cut out the picture and send it to Masfertronic Competition af Amstrad Action. The closing date is January I 3th.

SSSAM SHOVEL #1 WEVE HAD i |

= = a

stv Gg Soe EEE We avers f

io) O Kero) o)(-s Rol min(-M ib tiene (olitl- mel ol-m4e) tO) Goo

smpetition Entries

= 5 eS Li

2 Compe wy i three “" january ee ae | afr Lai

tT LE

=a, |f Bip x oe ‘ = ee ~ntries on a Pos = =, ' gre a = et = " th me L ¥ ee a ry ee eh yt = 2 wo Wack Ob ab = ie (Lael et sqrd oT The sis oe wail Wrouilt * Sriy: or <3 a

_ enier Tit"

eat wou Trust

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ame) fe A ; j | F..

han oe entries and. Mist. =, os & =—

fat a Wl

send sepa... address [e Hem Fs =a = ¥ | oi sea = Fug i trad .synpelhivis © Loe

‘hree Colep™ I . Wales

ction, : cemerset TAIL IPS

ac ' Somerton,

ne goSH SAKES sssamM SHovEL *-d.

Tie fobulous Couldran trophy, with programmer Richord Leinfeliner (in specs) and designe

ol slo] alor-Mrohere| oh itlg-MoM rel olt) (elt Qelt/(e/xeshide) eine

You don’t have to be schizoid to enter the great compe- tition we've cooked up in our cauldron with the warlocks at Palace Software. But— you guessed —it might just help.

it’s basically a two-in-one job. If you've already got Palaces’s broomstick arcade-adventure — a Rave in the December issue — you can win a specially made trophy for sending in what we consider to be the best map of the entire game. Everything must be there, and the map has got to look pretty pretty as well.

If you haven't yet got the game, cast an eye over the questions below. Answer them correctly and you could be on the receiving end of Palace's famed generosity.

Of course, if you do already have the game there's nothing to stop you entering beth comps in order to get yourself a bona-fide back-up.

The evil nasty questions

1. What does oa witch use to fly through the oir?

2. What colour cot does a witch usually keep?

3. What date is Halloween?

4, What vegetable is normally associated with Halloween? 5. Complete the following saying: Trick or...”

6. In what Shakespeare play ore the folowing words spoken? “Double double, toil and trouble”

7. In the same play, what animal whines three times during the witches chant?

= = es

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ES ee) ae, _—

ah Sree a Brera eee ; Poratanhatata as mats ee er en oe sia ie

Welcome once again, fellow travellers! This month the Pilgrim pays homage to The Never Ending Story, is stricken by the Curse of the Seven Faces, and has a ball with a magician! Furthermore, the Cowled Crusader offers you the chance to win the game of your choice as he launches the world’s first Readers’ Adventure Chart.

Plus news, hot reviews, and timely tips gathered for you

by the follower of the Strait and Narrow Path! What mors fr

can you want, exces to read on and find salvation!

—— = ~-

THE l ik hee in Fig Sg igh ess Ma ae

Ocean, ES.

Justimaqine it... There you are, s ‘iting y with your Arnold, when you disco vega proge cyi Shetarteas an attic, me discoyss Lectern

if all ithis sounds fi amili iT ‘nenyou ‘ve prok abt film ‘The Never-Ending Story’, cra bow RAMmed into } habit of churning out games based a ihe site atin P se! go Cy thi ng like

found at tthe local r Taq shop and tt Fantasia. The author of this 3 Bastian soon tinds himself

Bas lan BB can save ae e a os attic, and it's Up to a young F; Fite =k os Sa Cn the job. es *

That's where you eer °7 Ss must get hold of BBB. It's truly excellent graphi cs, Tcl ane ume desians x : hi-res. The graphics are ¥ backdrop ae nset-tinted le Various different ov ah ye around showing ch other views of inte rest :

ene sharac ie! set has allt

oD oD ry a a >

a ar 8 md ae

Soul sof f Darkon last si month whit ee SCreer 3 ee A j The game loads in four main data B Hocks, an intro fd three plotsections. These have to oe the righ although it would obviously be impossible to fit ever y once, it's still a bil of a drag waiting for teri toload. It'j worth saving the qame frequently, otherwise you can iy

80 /ANUARY 1986 AMSTRAD ACTION mrry casiem

your Arneld, thanks to Ocean who ta ing

a”

Cae

a El ne 2 ee ata a a es A ee ee ee Te

ae ee ee 1 ot

‘y

ee

Qe a.

cs ee

starting all the way from squa:e one i! ae _ The vocabulary is somewlia' |.mited but at ‘east you're tok,

| what words aren't understood. Cther progranmumng: eet a | inchide a real-time interrupt that wcuitors the lengun a play: ands “sets a very unpleasant character called Gmork the Werewolf on

your ailifyou don tgetamove 21

There area number of Gharac- : nication with iherais eae ted forthe mostpartiothe-| *EXC hange of objects in.return fc: ‘3

ee cas SSD ne oe anceomelimes at

eal neSs bo

fn Oh 1 eek

a Youewll not OWeyeL, i be ableto-crack the gaune withou: eel jance y ose So FheonlyresLomissionusotan x4: tiie option which sapity |

i a res a os “ae Bigepa a

you will need to make frequent recourse to the SAVE command if you're not to come uristuck here The Never-Ending Steryis superbly desiqned and the limited vocabulary will make it particularly attractive to younger players, while the size of the game may attract a few more experienced Pilgrims. I've only got one question - why does the graphic of Bastian show him reading a BOOK in his atic? Surely he ought to be tapping away at an Arnold!

There must 5 nently for this. game ltcertainly boasts aterrific pediqree —written by steve lacks on and lan Livingston of ‘Fighting Fantasy’ fame and

programmed by the Gremlins team at Adventure International, it promises quite a lew Surprises. You may recall however, that the Pilg wasn't entirely compii- mentary about Robin of Sherwood —a potentially excellent game | that was slightly marred by the way the program responded to your inputs. Well could have Deen anall-time best, but— although it's still pretty hot— It doesn Tt, in the Pilg sopinion, quite make the ‘Classic’ league.

Sarge ia.

a

4 a Pare = oi The blurb boasts 300 chore. We ass offen the case alarge

$1: 7 iations ona theme in this

“Ores

fe view, and the represent-

agg of hela a mally prea a

ight ng Fantagl

Fa ig ght, and this eciniaue has Z me. Whenever you attack gthis K certificate adventure

been parca on

S| happens al

séts of di

your opponent, Furst OUP Opp

beat. To.seyie yo uk

now spies

come Wpewrniiie:

luck Sige ane y

right niet

isy our destiny. the other that of

égin to spin frantically. When

eye on your own dice, whichare gop them wshen you think they've : n fact, the outcome is largely one of

& quite a few adventurers who have waited impa- |

Seas of Blood ts rather similar in some ways-—it |

fewever PE when you encounter ano= | a “4 gn land-based locations are

m: ~ 2, ne combat routines The |

. he text display clears and two |

Pwhich youmusteither match or |

or mes : oe way to Davey anes

| isadded to your dice throws (as is your enemy's

something quite special, The plot isnt startlingly original § forth and free a damsel in distress from the grip of an evil wizards | spell —but the program itself is excellently put together and offers

time may, i you'ré unlucky and get wounded, decrease your strength, These factorsare crucial in the gameé since your strength Jand itis essential lo keep it as high as possible to be sure of winning. Predictably,

| your opponents tend to get tougher as the game progresses.

As far as inputs and vocabulary are concerned, this game sulfers from similar drawbacks to its predecessor, Robin of Sher- wood, Apart from simply ignoring anything it doesn't understand,

| italso has a very annoying habit of assuming that any word follow- | fj ingan ‘Examine’ commandisa valid one, For éxarple., ifyou enter "Examine starue’ by mistake, instead of ‘Examine statue’ ) program will reply "You see nothing special’. This can be highly | misleading, as there IS something special about the statue and | you'll be losing outif youcdon't find out whatitis.

, the

The combat routines, however, make Seas of Blood a very

} enjoyable game, even ifit can be tiresome at times. It’s not very

easy to Map — the Pilgrim advises you to keep close to follow the shoreline to begin with so that you can map the inland sea more easily. Other than that, your best betis a sharp sword, aquickeye, and a blue beard. UP and at'em, me hearties!

Here's a new game [from a new company that promises to be qo

all the features us Pilgrims crave but rarely receive. First, you get some very attractive pics. They may be small,

but they're perfectly formed. There’s a diferent picture for each |

location, and the Pilg reckons that size comes second to quality where graphics are concerned second, just to give the atmosphere a boost, you get an aston-

ishing computer rendering of Mike Oldfield » Tubular Bells, Ifany | }of you out there ever saw Castle of Terror o running on a Commodore 64, you'll know how rateclve music can | be in adventure, especially when the melody changes as you |

move from location to location. Magician's Sallis, to my knowled- ge, the first game to do this on Arnold.

Third, you get real interactive characters. By that I mean characters who will accept commands as if they were directly

Clase up of one of the pics in The Magician's Boll

under your control. So you can make them get, drop. give, and go |

to your heart's content —- provided of course that they re prepared to obey. The characters have a significant role in the game and some of them are quite endearing —a little dragon, for example

| who provesa very faithful if somewhat useless companion.

You can also, rather asin Lords of Midnight, change the char-

| acter that you control directly. There are two main people in the

| game, Caro (who must break the spell) and Azui, who must help

{ him. If Caro gets in a tight spot, you can type Agul and lo and J}

stickaround ints AMSTRAD ACTION JANUARY 198681

a

The Dise Hobbit |

| =

F | a in —— i oe . a . 1 - 2a w= nS | Fh | 141 Ue oars nnean wie lee. iorahoans mvrentoaniea ne

benoid YOu Ve swal PEG IMenILUeSs, | ?atlons NVentones and all,

= hr = a ee | oe oe i le aT 7 ee 7] I ; al I i. =" = | = = Magician 'sB an excellent dame —the Cowleéed Crusader's oniy res i10n was that perhaps there wasn t quite enough of it,

but that doesn 'tnecessarilymean you'll finishitinahurry. Additto

rour collection, and keep an eve on this column tor news of Cla Sceor & next Global release that loo=s just as cood

This is one of a batch of cheap label games from Eighth Day | oftware, They've been around for some time but have only just een converted for pilgrims paying homage to St. Arnold They're cheap, they re Quiilea, they don’t have an enormous amount in them, but some of them are nevertheless extremely tricky. Jce Station 2¢ro, for example, puts you right up against it

, | se pli ek ye - * hieburs 7 er ae Pe Pe Soe io oe Sc from the word go by whis Ind YOu across the frozen archic wastes = ec -

= ee a - “mk 5 ry 7 I 1S sere | ee iz rr ae [ATT =p ear ra rrics iT holy pursued by a pack O1nuUNngrTy WOIves Currently (WoO OMe: Galt

lt's slightly typical of the Eighth Day Games that the only way | surreal intone — Faene-and the other - Quann Tulla— falling into

you can escape from the wolves is by using an object that is ex- | the mtergalactic conflict category | tremely difficultto find. The Pilg thinks thisisn't quite fair, since this One unusual touch is that each game has. on one side of the | secret weapon is concealed in another object which, & you | tape, a tutorial [or novice players as Well a5 a short promotiol |

| a. 4 a . re - 5 = of Ray i es 7 oe | Ns 2 Pe oe Pr. ) i= laee i : i “ya iP 8 ~ Se a feat toh be aii kb Fr bc

Examine’ it, is described as ‘Nothing Special’. The answer is that | olurb about the other qames in the serie:

=e = ee ee f a] ire a - | a / rot =| F es = io pee ied = = oe Cee OS, — i: i ct zg = you have to ‘Search'it, but the Cowl §TuUSaGerrecKkons mis ioit LNnese Games are Cc : i be i wit “ . | . =

F 1 : i i + i 1 roy a — - - es _ = a 7 : * - i » : ee bee : Fig ty a ee se pe ~ a Sl=ar tren i liar © red Ay Ea : 1 ca '¥ irc * Tes rire | mf r sir) Fea slightly misleading, and not the sort of word-play that naturally | [/ustrator efforts (i.¢. there are no graphics) and! can't help fee = i = : ‘

| springs to the fingers when pursued by wolves. ing that I'd rather save my cash towards something more subatant- ial. They used to cost only £1.99 when they first appeared on the

Once you've escaped the wolves, it'sa rather traditional

| of stopping a mad scientist from blowimg up the world, There

gs — r Tha tte. .- = en ae a 15 i : =) 23 Ctl LigT) we Th] “fi Was a DI IMOTe Teasonanie

Ltideeeis lepine’. Ralls abel Seas of Blood 83% 62% 78% 78% Never Ending Story 85% 65% 78% 82% Magician’s Ball 85% 82% 65% 80% Ice Station Zero %

Ser Pr the Mtithion of the “ps MOM form ted pt withodt delay te vier thea pa ert ile wos _| gt irltthing WO onl Tak olen JO Ward, haul sharwen Your gillanf > Agoaee

out pees eo 7 cae re ae aE. ails . 1 Leta eed = — he Si ee ed Bats Bran * i i. a oot = it ipa “ ae a ' ; <a

i.

To The Pilgrim. -

My favourite three adventures are

Ys Ms sy é. Game: <— _ Company: J. Game: | Company:

My reascns for puting game If fm a lucky Pilgrim and win a number one above as first choice free game, I should like to rece are: ive acopy of

My aidressis (BLOCK CAPITALS ONLY)

} Mis month. “At last! A magazine J tik Gor a. genuine adventure “ 3er1e8, We aim to foliow the Pil- . SimMeverywhere'. Wilkingas—|

| | ge Your obvious taste and disc: imin- ‘Ras got round te ca ling b Es Great One’, bound in.

)@an- only congratulate you on.

; _ ati “tine

> Paul and Clare prov

mé O. newer

| only other readers would tol worte o | time I've ~ ther evidence of their outmtand-

ae ns ah

Derek Makeson in Pilorim No 2 ~ that l should print ae cn = reviews’ of games worth buying. From now on therefore, we'll truth to tell there aren't very many ‘at have made m onto

serie tlc ian

mer to the micto market. e it's Christmas and

"world of adventure for the first

ee oe Ps

ee Lil > have written in this month Many lop hg ave asked me to follow an uggestion made by

ing of a —

ided a brief section to

ah suffice it to | 400 out of 400° 3 without using it, The sandee i shot both Return toEdenand Emersid eles isie@DO haveause however Asa. k Starter, try dropping the koala my ewi when at the statue in Return ro — ~ 1 will uncover a usefu!

A great thing to do in Emerald Isieis type in XYZZY ~ {1 doesn't get you anywhere, but H's funny all the same! One thing.

Co el

——y

sae oe

i a | Clue Sniffing With the Pilgrim

fing judgement by praising oe mer i advice. ares i Pa ie hae tna players: Sciesthe gies acts aeieeanteec ee aot eee Tho belo, m= delinielyone of One ‘old’ game mat the Pil. “and comple saventures— grim has reviewed (in Pilgrim 1) fon the ‘devious war facrkee 8 is Wintetsoft's Ring Of Darkness: iP sae ES Cl OL Warlord. ~ 'Oneofthe baatadventurconaceas i hes ic ise this Gamea on the market today’. enthuse F | been playing orate nd bas and J Pancot of Weymouth. Joan “then. Inter sd eisliaont Since — *hengoes onto provide usall with Pin my opine aly = 8 Very detailed map of the game | muck effort imo the pies gage SNas0me Playing hints, a couple ._ puch effort into the pics anda.“ of-which I have included tcc f little too little into the prose, bat’ Chie Pol Ive ci ee dehy, : mY PEGG, OO Che Pot |'vealssiakan the un. 4 ieeriord 8 one of their best yet, usual stepotprintingacopyotihe ES trouble with Warlord, |'yve pe Das eae | _ Month's clue pot. These come to “is gamewhat di }» ¥OU courtesy of Chris Plant from: cayainarycad } Stafford. Chris had never tackled ther

Mmmmm! We tackle some very sticky situations in this month's Clue Pot. Matthew Fawbert will be grateful for an answer to his query about the natives in Jewels of Babylon, and Paul Jackson should have found out by now that to open the clam in Heroes of Karn you need the crowbar. Keep the clues coming in, fellow Pilgrims - remember, one day it may be YOU who's stuck and in

need of help!

WARLORD A. mule? There isn't one in this game, but that's all the help you'll

get here for passing the demons in the Vale of Whispers.

Get into the groove! Or rather, put it in the groove. That may help you later when the Fomorians cause trouble.

Be JEWELS OF BABYLON If it's lunchtime for the natives, you'd better WATCH out!

2 Bac mee: |

t

a tet ate yy a 5

an adventure af Worlerd Uo“, si on) See eh eee ae spy | am sure’, he says that arpane (om Aeeichinthisgame.seeing | _(sungtothe tune of OMy Darling...) ~ fo whe toda fire ci. Whereeveryihing iadoes Hispoil || Byarockpool,nearacanyon,

f Who has completedafirstadven: (1. ip fre will appreciate the success[ ha ai ~: | felt on seeing my first 100%; can aoore,- x - “Although | am @ complete 4° |: ROVice when it comes to Ft _ f {ute games. and other things ac- for tho: 20) JP: Serding to my wife (although we ‘useful ely --) f Sohavetwochildren)Ishouldbe +. of 8ppy to heip anyone with this

a os Particular adventure!’ Bravely ofp) Maller is that we're all novices oe Nea 1o adventur

Lives a crab of some renown.

Turn and run and he will follow,

Give a yell and break his crown.

(thanks to Mr Anderton of Shepton Mallet)

ERIK THE VIKING The Dragon has a ticklish problem ~ get up his nose and see the trouble...but hurry, do it on the double! (Thanks to James Clifford

of Glasqow)

SPIDERMAN | A mixture of acid and calcium carbonate — there's someone who

won'tbe able to wriggle out of that!

1a ra |

a Cee eae ee

GREMLINS Forget the mail! It's plates you need, and you're going to have to Wice player cut them yourself.

“|| MESSAGE FROM ANDROMEDA

‘| The writing's on the wall! Make sure you type itin when asked.

nom

aa — APY ee a Ce a Oe ate ee me oie eS pore eg ae a at ea eet Sea ete eat. ge RC Ree CRIES ORE mr AM a ae sae ae

sina eect [hort var hies fr (et

ae ne! oe cat ecient pinta oan pints as eee se ee char u in, i a) i uh ©! A

|

OK Pilgrims, now's the time to put your cards on the table, It's all very well robbiting on about other people's games, but could you actually produce one yourself? Supposing you were an ace programmer —have you got the imagin- otion to turn out o number one hil#

Well, having the imagination to buy an Amstrad in the first place wos a good start. That's becouse there ore now no less than THREE odventure creation programs for Arnold [more than for any other machine) and each one offers graphics options, with one even giving you three channel sound effects to go with the pics. Which one is for you, and what have they got to offer?

Adventure generators have to do three things. They must allow you to:

|. specify what's going to be INPUT during the game =s0 that moans they must allow you fo setup vocabulary tables so that the program con recognise commands entored by the ployer. Secondly, they must allow you to

2. specify the ACTIONS — which are what take place within the program |

once a command has been entered (pick up an object, for example).

3. specify what's going to be OUTPUT during the game — messages, location descriptions, pictures, responses and 40 on.

A good program will not only do all this, but be oaty to use (so it doesn’! interfere with your creative processes), provide as many options as possible, ond give os much spoce os possible to work with.

So how do the three Amstrad-compatible programs meawre up? First, let’s take o look of Gilsoft's Quill program, which is now cvailoble on disc and cassette together with [he Hlusirofor— oa graphics creator utility.

The Guill is excellently documented and comporatively easy to use, although if you are o complete novice when it comes fo programming you may find some of the terms used in the monuals hard to understand. It allaws you to enter details of up to 25.4 differant vocabulary words and a maximum of 752

location descriptions. You can also specify 255 different messages—more than |

enough for most games — and have up to 255 different objects.

Sounds great, but the big problem here is one of space. Tou get about |

28000 bytes free and although that sounds a lot, you'll have to proctise careful memory management to get the best out of the system.

The first thing to realise about The Quillis that it demands very coreful design strategy to get the best out of the system. This is true of all adventure

| generators, but particularly so here if you're not to run into space problems. | Essentially it boils down to a question of balancing the number of locations with

the length of the descriptions. The Quill does not ot present have any form of text-compression (although this facility is currently being developed for the Amstrad version by Gilsoft}, and you'll find it difficult te produce a convincing game with much more than about 80 locations.

That's not as bod as it sounds, however — Melbourne House's Terrormo- |

lines and Hampstead were both written using The Guill and ore excellent examples of what con be done with the program with coreful design and good ideas. It's true that Melbourne House do a bit of polishing up before releasing the game, bul you shouldn't underestimate the power of The Quil/in producing a professional-looking product.

When it comes fo Introducing graphics, The flustrator Is a powerful

program in its own right. Not only does it allow complex shading patterns as |

well os the usual fill and draw routines, but most important of all it allows you to define objects within your pictures that con be used over and over again in other drawings. This means you can define o set of picture "building blocks’ —

S4JANUARY ] 986 AMSTR AD ACTION Where are the TY programs?

trees, for example, and rocks — and then use them to build up different pictures, saving a lot of memory in the process.

Not only that, but this ‘merge’ facility Is mode even more powerful by allowing you to scole these objects differently in each picture, so 0 door can be tiny one in the distance in one drawing and o big one right up close in another one = and yet take up only o small chunk of your precious RAM.

Both programs are easy to use and The Quil/in particular can help you with its ‘diagnostics’ commands, which when used keep you up to date on the status of variables ete within your adventure, so you can see if anythings going wrong. This can cut down on debugging time and leave you more time for design.

There ore however some other, less obvious advantages of using The Qviil if you're serious about creating commercial software in particular, First, it's portable — if you develop ao Quilled game on the Arnold you won't have much trouble in producing versions for other machines and enlarging your potential market. There are currently Qui/is running on the Spectrum, Commeo- dore, ond (shortly) BBC micros os well os Arnold.

Terronmmoline:! A classic Quilled adventure from Melbourne Hours. Just goes fo show what you condo with simple inguls, good Ideas, dever design, ond The Quill.

Secondly, Gilsoft, who produce the program, can be very supportive to Quill pragrammers and even occasionally publish games written using the

6 0 0 Pe : Wer. 8

» Available on more than one machine » Powerful graphics features

» Rather inflexible » Very expensive

ubility. Just os importantly, they have ao policy of continuously upgrading the product — there's o text-compression utility on the way, and a split-screen

graphics program as well. Each product is designed to work with the others in |

the range without inconvenient patching ond hassle.

Finally, The Guill is a tried and trusted product, well-known to software |

houses and with o good reputation for aiding in the development of successful games. in fact, there's only one big snag with The Quill — the price! To generate

the important consideration that all wierued pictures must be to the some scoole. | | Apart from this, the main strength of the programiles inits ease of use — youcan

create images with great ecse ond the pockoge is rather foster fo use and |

| become cocuttomed to than Ihe Iiiustrofor. lf, however, you are confident of

graphic adventures you obviously need both The /ilustrator and The Quill, | which together will cost younearly £37.00 for the cassette versions and almost |

£46.00 on disc! Don't despair, however, because — as you'll soon see — there's

| afar cheaper solution...

Graphics Adventure Creator « =

a

| Incentive Software's Graphics Adventure Creator was launched at the

| Unlike the Gilsoft products

Amstrad Show in London and has already attracted favourable criticism. it's a combined text and graphics utility. It's also far cheaper — £22.95 for a cassette version and only

£24.95 on disc — a saving of almost 50% over It's more famous competitor. |

How does it compare? First, it's extromely flexible, The Quill strongly favours a verb-noun input

odventure, but GAC also enables you to setup an ‘adverb’ table, which can be | ued for prepositions like ‘to’ os well os true adverbs like ‘quietly’. This,

combined with the ease with which it swollows multiple statement lines, means that you can devise some very complex puzzles and, with the current fashion

for more advanced fext input, this meons your gomes will look very

professional.

secondly, it offers a greater amount of data storage — you get up to |

2000 possible locations ond can set up vocabulary tables containing up to 785 words. You can only define up te 230 messages, but since this doesn't include location descriptions that's enough for most purposes.

You find anueaelr on vie Rawle ao a mountain strean,babbling Peas Sa vie base of the mountain itsel#f.. crossed by a stone bridge ‘ood ing east to a dark cayve entrance. You can also see an oil lamp

Hhat now?...Call for the Pilgrin!§

| Romom— programmed using GAC from incentive. Very pretty diplay ond complex graphics

odweved uilng the ‘merge’ facility. Feature: compiles inpwh ond feat compretsion, but is only

| ovolloble for Amstrod wert af present.

However, the real crunch comes when you ralise thot if uses text- |

compression to enable you to fit more text into your memory. To start with, you

have about 25000 bytes to play with, but the tokenisation system used by |

| GAC con effectively double that for some games, giving you a stupendous | amount of space,

your graphics skills then you would probably find the scaled merge option on

the Gilsoft program an almost overpowering reason for choosing it in pre-

ference to GAC — but you'll have to pay dearly for it, and the text-side of your |

game (which is what really counts) could well be more limited. However, the real keynote of incentive's program, apart from flexibility, is ease of use. You're given a large number of commands to play with and even

non-programmers should find themselves getting to grips with system rapidly.

The manual, though shorter than The Quill and MMlustrator quides, is very clearly

| written and helpful.

GAChazs only one real drawback, and that is that it's only available on |

the Amstrod of present. That means that ony game you creote will not

necessarily reach such o large audience as o Quilled program, ond this could | | be o decisive factor in persuading sofltwore houses to consider your product.

Bul do not despair — incentive are currently considering Spectrum, BBC, and |

Commodore versions! It's some measure of the confidence | have in this program that leads the

will not only change the face of the adventure software market, it will also be one of the most successful programs of Its type ever. The only current omission is of a multiple screen-mode option, bul even so, | reckon Gilsoft had better watch out!

» Flexible

> Easy to use

» Wide range of commands > Value for money

rey: D iN E

> Amstrad only at present |» No multi-mode screen facility

<

Finally, Genesis from CRL claims your attention as the only adventure creator that enobles you to incorporate sound AND graphics into your games. How- ever, the Pilgrim felt that this program — although promising very similar

options to GAC and The Quil/— was let down by poor documentation and a |

system that might appear rather unfriendly to the first time user. Genesis does however have another trick up its sleeve — and that's split- screen graphics os standard. This does mean that you can use the different

modes of your Arnold to their bes! advantage, getting the colours of Mode Din

one part of the screen with the 80 column width for text in another. It's important not to underestimate the importance of good screen design in an odventure, ond Genesis certainly wins out here.

Unfortunately the sections of the program that provide all these facilities | simply anen't as friendly os they could be. The manual sets the tone here by | saying — on the section about sound, for example — "We do not propase to

explain in detail what the sound envelopes are. The Amstrad User Guide |

covers this fairly well, and there have been many orticles on the subject in the

| computer press. This may be true, but it would be nice to hove o litte | essistance, particularly since the utility itself isn’t quite as friendly a3 it could be. | The some, unfortunotely, goes for entering the data for the adventure |

_ itself. The different commands certainly weren't chosen for clarity, and assume

To give you some idea of what this means, Incentive recently used GAC to | do on in-house conversion of one of their Spectrum titles, Mountains of Ket. The

original Spectrum version occupied 35K of memory, but on the Amstrad running GAC it takes up only 1 5K!

The graphics utility in GAC is excellent — it offers shading (though not as |

comprehensively as The Mivstrator), rubber-banding, ond ellipse drawing.

Most importantly it alse offers a merge facility like The illustrator, though with |

that you're conversant with looping, variables, and logical expressions. Some | of the examples given have significant misprints in them, and working out | exactly what's going on takes a little time. | can't help feeling that Genesis |

would be of mast use to people with a reasonable amount of BASIC programm-

ing experience — in other words, people who enjoy programming and might | | well consider leoming mochine code and writing their own utility rather than

use CRL's.

| Pilg to predict that — if Incentive DO bring out versions for other games— GAC |

The Pilgrim would like to wish all his readeraa (ace paige 258) AMSTRAD ACTION JANUARY | 386 85

88

SE EE eS T_T

VV —_—_—— —— ——<——

SS.

freer the ny has offense weed: race roe carl corn Chee lcd genie comrey (hart etl rane herr 2 meet of beter.

Fppae Awa MiK, A) |

TAPE [os ll | ™ ABU SIMBEL PROFARATIOS THING OW A SPRING

Cher S00 geo. Punerenes Hl buat the Lidice, imple pone -bapntia tore Terpae of Tenoal. For ever 30 wre tay roe id a Sentara) (1s secrets Bao reer? nd (ts treasures to underground

Packer Lo farrier eyes -

red ea phorer at FT ope | eutraordinaire. has enrtored Abw Sienbel and an - faihen victim to the Pharoah § sped. In : uae , onder to continae his adventures bp mast Compirte the iinyica jagaw ace bread bie frie Riser from tie spell, mach the Pemeed iar egret

mortuary Chamter and discover Its secrets! eee

i eee 8.95 pax I Z.

Gremlin Graphics Software » Limited 1985. Alpha House, 10 Carver Street, Sheffield S1 4PS. Tel: (0742) 7153423 a

WITH THE MOST POWERFUL FLEXIBLE AND EASY TO USE UTILITY EVER.....

apnics WHE

rale

geet | pictures: effort an

sword scan

£ MAKE MONEY £

We are urgently looking for atmospheric, original, humorous and imaginative graphic adventures written with GAC wiih a view to The Graphic Adventure publishing your adventures for you. Creator (GAC) for the Amstrad NO te ie Soyer premest: Authors! a are talelly iree to ies a : CPC range of computers, has been specifically your spate ‘tea vi ee ces per ee developed to enable YOU to produce last, compact adventure games with | ane nics telat . the minimum of effort and the maximum of creativity. The Graphic Adventure Creator for the Amstrad CPC Computer range is complete with an informative and friendly manwal, the Quick start , ae EEN , | file and a free example adventure - Advinman! COMPREHENSIVE INTELLIGENT COMMAND INTERPRETER GAC retails at £22.95 on cassette and £24.95 on dise and is Handling complex sentences and multiple command lings, the user is not available {rom leading multiple and independent retailers or by our stricted (unlike others) to 2 word input. “It detection is also included. | se cont area | ssi hg a | fasi mail order service [ist class post Frees). e.g. Take the box and open it Unieash your Imagination with The Graphic Adventure Creator carefully. Examine the silver

charm then put it in the box” is a | PRIORITY ORDER FORM perfectly valid input! ee

|

| Please rush me, for my Amstrad CPC Computer This allows you to create lar more detailed and more numerous location : ‘puIe any £22.95 DCassette descriptions to improve the playability of your adventures, With a full THE GRAPHIC ADVENTURE CREATOR £24.95 ODise

function editor, GAC features automatic word formatting, a logical | 76 /p or please debit command interpreter and abbreviated input acceptance. GAC will Lenoiees Sed ee 1 bit

“a piel ce Pople _ ANY word e.g. River/Rivet, Screw/Screen, He . oe alle ile bieliet kaon alates li. Rela

| 3 : Name/Address ....... N.B. Adventures created using GAC will run totally independently on wes:

any Amstrad computer without the need for GAC to be present in

mamory.

fo pL OS INCENTIVE SOFTWARE LTD, 54 LONDON ST, READING RGI 489 ‘ psi el old ace Telephone Credit Card Orders Ring: (0734) 591678

mat.

“o> HK. Hhat now? § oa 7e - es

Creetings young s1Fr: Tis a fine day =

for the brave to 7° a~seeking . Why, v G 0 0 0 ‘even here in Hest and 11¢5 the great ¥* ah ; Scroll of Hisdom, possession of ?

which is said to brin great power. rd

Find thee the Venerable Bede if thou * » Sound

wouldst know more. Farewell until we Ff ®» Multi-mode screen meet again. y so

é >» Low price

O.K, What now?

= 2 SSe===e as Nene ee eile al ee ey ie EE i

Green Park

The Chaes Factor. This wos written using Genesis looks good, but the graphics take oa long Hime to draw. Using Genesis can be hard work, but you can Include sound and split-screen ® Unfriendly documentation

graphics using different modes. ® Limited commands

There is however, one powerful reason for considering Genesis — and | pon ee that’s price. It's by far the cheapest of the programs reviewed here, costing Ss only £9.95 on cassette. Unfortunately there isn't a disc version at present, but sobs perhaps CRL will remedy this in the near future.

Despite the poor decumentatian, | think CRL have been rather unlucky with Genesis — they've brought out 4 program that only a few months age would have received rather more attention. As if is, it's overshadowed by feo ather utilities Fhat ore of unusually high quality.

So there youhave it. Personally, I'd plump for GAC without hesitation, but if you one of those rare individuals who is dead set on releasing a comme rcial game across a wide range of machines, The Quilimay prove tobe a better bet. | You'llhave to work harder, but you'llhave alargerma rket for your games and a well-supported product that has become an industry standard. If sound, sp lit screen graphics, and low price are important to you, then consider Genesis —

he Pilgrim’s Guide for Inex

Sra ————

ime...run away (or change your lowing location

weapon). A maze of twisty little pas-

commrmmmmemmmmmmmmammigg sages, all alike. Exits lac Jithin Doe | NS.E.W

and found that the description didn'tchange at all, you wouldnt bnow whether you had really changed locations, OF whether the exit you had taken had trickily returned you to the same loc- ation. In this case, the only way to mark your progress isto drop as many objects a3 possible in the various ‘identical’ localons

In the second type of maze. the descriptions vary ever 380 slightly. For example:

Sassen

a toe aa

On the Road Keep to the left-hand side Make your requests 1n as simple a man- ner as possible. Always use Two | words —a verb and a noun — and avoid more compiex interachon uniess you are gure U i appropriate

for arod, a horn, or a help sheet, Lar, Ropes are for tying, rods and Within Mazes

(Location X)}

You are in a maze of twisty little passages. You can g® NsEW

(Location Y)

You are in a Maze litte passages, You can ge NSEW

nl hap ae Lee tk ar he 1

wands are for waving, hors are lt is usually possible to escape This second type is obDvVIOUsy from amaze if youhave only just easier to Cras -k. A foolproof

for blowing, and help is fo » cl entered itby going backthe way m athod in in both cases isto draw 7 |

sharing. yx

odve YOUr game forprosper- you came if Avoid mazesunless up a tabie with (in the lelthana column) an entry for each ioc:

ity when faced with dragons. you have no alternative, Or yOu column) Save it also when faced with the have many ebjects with you (see ationandakey-number fort and unknown, Save itanyway. below) (across the page) spaces for each

Resort to violence only as a There aretwomaintypesof available airection Then enter last resort, and always specily a woapon if you have one. Choula location descnptions and mis: location. Example: you be slain, reflect on the fool- leading exits. For example, sup- ighness of your actions and next pose you went West from the [ol-

BB JANUARY 1986 AMSTRAD ACTION

an J

j/k USE :

= GET °

'& GIVE :

i= LC ?

i INVENTORY +

‘'7 DFSCRIBE ¢

1S ERT ;

ss _ i ed Het reneeecieh =F } but you'll have to pay for your choice in © & Mouldy Sage sits cross-I egged on a fF fime, an unfriendly system, onc rather limited commands.

Graphics Adventure Creator PyyaR Li eo

erienced Ir

maze. The firsttype hasidentical which direction leads to which

ther ways — longer developement

NSEW |, Twisty passage 2241 9 Narrow passage 2113 3. Twisty passage (with 333 < dropped swerd) 4. Damp passage 44.37

ie foie for a Pilgrim Adven- adh a Board are going a © hope to have some 2p om you about this next a -Meanwhile, ifany readers

ve modems, or are Planning to

Jet i : a “sage and have sugqestiong | at Sort of service they

would like to soe ss aps a line asap. | @ Pilg rim can also be ; 5B via Micronet/Prestel. My ai box number is 919994854 | am always more than hap t ee with other sau: sonbamgs ff you are on Telecom ze ms you can contact me on : J L251. Or, ifyou're really 4 = isda and have access ( . | alex machine, you can telex y ' on 69514] TXLINE G. Your aba a oe Be prefaced with the above,

then please

q

x nUMDer given

vell

aa, a

CPT S.00

PaFiicuila

must, alter exploring each loc-

naze, fhe &xit

ation and entering all the destin- ations, be West from locahon 4 Note that the player dropped an

cation oto distinguish it from jocation |, which Ras an ientical de

ih ree ee SCD OUOn.,

About inputs

F oe 1 ar my ee =, oy =. 2 ls y Reet es bad Pao! Ot ee - ple eT |

= = w - =n aa ele i =F =, |B See " WW ha i ee Le ' La ow Gore rd vE

as iy Hy |) a ao a han tat = hae BL t= ba a= D4 aa examMmole Bw re Moe Ee 1 | = . r= Bape ie

get the response “You can’t do tal, nen iter on in the game ao not dive up easily when told ‘You can't do,..” something —you may just be using the wrong words. However, a program Mal says ‘| dont understand (wert will & probably mean # when later i fells you that someting cant be gone sNGSTsanding HOW a program resr OTMLS 10 Foul Inputs

oan be a great help in solving a ame,

Similarly, try entering ab breviations. It Know how many letters of eac!

=. ek > = se : = , + E ion if OLeyn et Ls

WOrd Iné program 15 looking at For example, a program that ac

cepts ‘tak’ for ‘take’ is unlikely be able to tell the difference be iWeen ‘spear and ‘spell’-know ing this can sometimes help in times of trouble,

|When in doubt

ror ie y 10 Yen ik at

clean life anc fol

respect @

7 aa

‘om

TOWNS

Borderto

Ocean Town

Arnold's Siqn Western sign Sirengi I Gondor's Monument Weapon Midsea Buoy Aguity i3 Northem Sign Weapon

Weapon

iM Solomon's [nrone Intelhigance

Tower oi a Cpe] Ory

Weapon

ne eo recor rs ee ee ee |

7 io - Tre ee ee i a

iL ipt

DUNGEONS

Doom Labyrinth

Maze of Minos Death's Reach Houston Hollow Barrow: of Bran

= iz Lo ee Pe . pe Pe ee See

Aandra

it

tet ace

¥,

ee

) JANUARY

The New Year's Hon li : OUTS: st confains TRE for all Arms trad g = ust aes ir Alan Sugar 1s el 9 the peerage - arise Lorc Action s Stafi in rec: oOgnition of services to erty computing For fie ee oh Sa = se Lordi age of the same reason, Alan Sugar is knighted. Arise SirAlanSugar! [9332 4 Mir 5 Claus of Greenland places iT] Ladvance 3 Order for one

million Amstrad i aa | WWter efor EST OR 1 2 # i E Christmas 1986 Magazines close down, Verging do not launch Sorcery Plus ete.

Mation Software r : sits : ee ee ‘a hiss shes ok the | | gel aly: ne Whe sbe. i which rae cea Amstrad clo not bother to lan ich any new computers anc oir Clive Se a ee rs have to machine- qun their way into Eee) Sinclair forar meet ct coca eke spear ay hi rc fies, ill) ih STMONnIN at least, GOES nol lose any Te mone’

ene my tr ll o rescue another bare- ch ee te aly pop singer cap- PS d alr, OT One Mm nth Cc Tl Pe any Tore none tured iby t teenage fans. The game is criticised for its vik iolence ancl =

fe Trio Lh j emus 7 | 7 + = 2 fe a f Tg - a ie

——+——'___ [SEPTEMBER You turn the hero Finn | eae Dpceeday civ S ctementer ‘etlirn to schoc ol to fing i that their teachers | here Jie | : a ia ail the iT teachers hi ive been rep eins ¥ Amstr ad C ompt iters. >| =Gucation Secretary Sir Keith Joss eph ex xplains the move as an Se al i eae srecarvanon O 3 is ineducation “ahs Departineni of the Environme! sve pn reser computer ; USh oul alter the runaway success Of Papa Lama, launch Dajai | Ae the Cpoao4, making f ihe ee : se see damaging sg elling OT | sank = nan almost unsuspecting Public In this ame vot play the Severe penalties are instit recaeene atenes COM VL oved ae ted leader of a Tibetan group who has to rescue a cap- ditching one o these ain edie nes NONOrary = ot the } on Be slg from the monastery where b 12 1s held eic, etc 2 puters. Duke sae ciety for _ Seueere vation of Arno! cis : =i ra nj asmany pecple as you canon the Way. if qoes st traignt fa tie = = ) RSPA - the Roya Society ior! a ee

AUGUST

| ispended for one month as the | Ration célebrates with street parties, reworks displays etc

oe

{FEBRUARY

oe | SJargle Games |) caste through 360 degrees,

snch Dun na Neggin ie W eee but you still haven ia clus

TT ee |

ore 1ei0) 'to introduce nationwide stars lagreé

ly rare and threa

4 fhamentt isunch Pr}

i Be ap ” WHAINSO MUNCH OMNI GET, In ately Mp to cash in on the @ craze T

= ee ERR oes bar a RAN rea Re pactcec + ea eet eats Ah RCH 2 . 4 et aa BS aha ena eMart ae ela mate 7 : ik, 1 betan f = ; , . - ,' - 3

A t oF

CPC6 128 reinstated after mass demonstrations. lobbying of Parlia-| ie = ae in ee scala : Z igieack npieese Dreratane Cre-

ment and delivery af FA's petition containing § 5 Bon. The siqnatures facies oft ne ve ryan a Dre ha chester i fic alle +|- We Jie bate a cTagena rian Aas at Downing Street, Mrs. Thatcher announces that March 12th willlee) 0"

henceforth be a public holiday. tx ) be called bi2e Day Ee | | |

Launch of follow-up to Sorcery Plus Sorcery Pius Plis, with | ==) OcT | --anmh wakes one crisp @utuirn

206 rooms and 32 wizards. A creat success es) Cancation Secretary ot rep eae Sr radco sof et ee

: es) morning tc paar uptcielneh sae met fe "| wish ihe ae PC2evuu

oF APRIL o : . : sss a a a ee a the 10 meqa- -by tio CPt wie a) i ae hope ath; 4sm ryt sea: ] at 4" i did : eases _ itenew joo Loniy HYP “eee lisher' | 51 ‘lan suga aL }Owe»rec vehic! ’ h 4 Ls es tr every: aL ese in its (ome iT jie ie : vie me mi jhe iT] P eee ish Sir Alan Sugar launches a battery-powered venicle. res . Arnstrad Actionre saches worlday ri - wee to pe awarded exira Fools Day =| Amstrad‘ nounces that staff are 1 pas ait | : Pollowin He succes of Sorcery Plus Plus Veraing Software | mes) CAMs Anderson am recognition of 1 achievenien’ Pa i ATE le ee Cte i So) Lol PH Pius 3 a yp ee cS Bis am | : getel ares pu ane@r-s 1 7 I =, - ee ee oO foe eee, aaa { e ee | aes a | Tauons ra | scrum ipy in ae Cd ar 1 KL oil! Lane. a] vale be ne a alan oOrce;ry id Plas Plus, with 512 rooms and 64 sorcerers. | pee express their gratita ide by pours me Another qreat success soci hnasis pres r : == | Rolls Royce. | US Mould run out of American games to release. They ar eed aes Ing rele: nounce arrival of new Tibetan games, beginning with rape 1a. Fete hae | of the charts,

by owe j Which 8 10 Lie di

i = af Tree |

7,

hetop} ary Pls Plus Olas 5 Sees Ae It qoes to the | ig | =] ra Liat + s., a = : pais sre it 5 folle myad by Sorcery Plus rus Plus Pius. | Wis VE! : ie 4 Lot “on i i.

Pius = Aah

my orcery i

| 3 i F nd release the long awall ed a

¥coq ete teed Tian hoe

e ¥| 2 4a

foes

Wuts In May I's big with

everyo! ne & |se

‘ A AD iS ee S|) Gathering a r | q A [I [

1 rt neh if Nic ION 5 | Fr La » | oo] SVE . . Arer A ee ri rich : il af ts : WA! TL Lon Fea

Ca 4 aPeS s the laur ie ‘ot ; Se ee oo Le ; oF =a , z , = aithe cricketseasons t official has to reca apture his co: second half of year Growth has been promising DOul not spec- ac cee ofl ware re eH ee a

steG Cr wers ath e pavilion mtr hee | tacular hesavs nope iOT aMarcked improvenm Wnt next yea! { players

i NE = bails reat bak wel ie les Ts = , ne ‘TLS i i i ve Lili ¢ nyt ne with anythin: ri of equipment pads gis = ritaokiadecetacrseceatrtly: eee See a y J MAXIMUM ame

} ie! — stati iil

@ hic ive = ‘hes — to inflic

4 the saute ors jamade ) : arhiament al a bee aaa

rapturous applause by al

cuc ambes sanawic

Word = upin Mexicois¢ cancelled. FIFA i aise to hold the scincael : : “ove mputer i nsteag. to avoid any possibility of hooliganism, [2222 — . eared week session atthe V DUSEn nolan i'srepresentativel! é see DECI ade scores a famous victory —Wimbledon’s first in ida eed Me EMBER eee SO : wrt oe § Christmas issue of Amstrad Action features a cover computer Bungle § ¥ I Rinse alii infernary anal Sher he ieee if onethat Amstrac} have ad itheir i) ware rs time The army| Hristmnas Market AA comments that the came sears ie | eS | is called outte conti al ths friienes as necniann oget! Se ee SAS : | eee Of the 2,00X),000 ce

Pat oe

1 ae

== ee oe aaa 5

on | JULY 7 oe —— = —— = i eee ean the country's worsening economic situation, sapere 5 | 128 : “y= matte ay C PA ne i Lanbasrs de Cigle [0 tak 2 OVvVel (hie governme ni Aite: eos the bloodless c ‘coup, né nation's politicians are set to useful wor: dreaming up or iginal scenarios for games | AA becomes official publication of the government. All staff mem bers a Qrantec Earigor Sand qene ITOuUSs life pensions

Sorcery Plus Plus Plus Plus at last available - [bs rooms cerers Purchasers begin to complain about the length of the [ee hame ae

| mstrad announce halt-yearly | f£125 ittion Sir Alan Sugar comments that the fiqures are ‘a Uttic 2 ting’, but promises better results in the second hal! weYoatT

Spectrum 48K £9.95 Commodore 64 £9.95 Amstrad CPC 464 £9.95

The section where your tips, pokes and devious game-busting ploys are relayed to the nation

= | id é - =

Starion

Thanks ah tine Nolan tox one “ing usa working ae Bre eene ee fe

26 MODE BORDER o. oe SOFORG=0TO is: READPINE : GP: NEXT G asc 40 DATA 92203 catia ¢.2,6,8, 18.20.24 28.08.26 26.26.28, | 26,2615

50 LOAD SETUP. BIN’ sere

60 CALL 36506 °° =:

70 LOAD ICODE. BIN’, $120 Seaiolecaee, % 2865.0 ae 90 CALL 10140 TS eee

Lashmi Ram of Dudley and Ml Farrell of Ryde have both succes- fully completed the gare and are determined to share their eEnow- ledge with you. Mr Farrell was | apparently the first Amstrad owner to notify Melbourne House of finishing the qame but didn't

you need to watch out for where

you are in each game you play The codes always stay with the | same date and this should be| your guide. We're only printing

block two this month but if you're |

really nice to us we might! print

the third and final one next time

Our amazing map of ME Nonierteqiacis was sweated, strained and | ! agonised and over by Dean Adam of Cardiff. Not satisfied with that |

get @ prize - that went to a oSpec- rum o4 seems a bit unfail

NTVET since the game was released on

the Spectrum long beore it was on the Amstrad.

The zones and grids shift around in blockstwoand three so

TYLA

PETER META CUBEK A ART Abe he BT, oF PMC TACT SHERL OR

ANTIROTES ALLSUS TUS jee ne fl

ae : KE LAS Wy unc} PR Pee a ap LESHT

WEDDING NAILS ANTHEM ra Pel

RITE LABCIEIR Curl

ome Se |B ORWELL,

PRL PELE Sa CrICTK AUT Alea i} EU Pos

PASS WORE LAR PAS Ae

pO THE EAE Pet Le pas EMEC SH

THE AAO? Tee TBA Se a i

ot ale a sige a rill ri |

ap . iF 5 2 ot PA iF i 1

CYSTehes

ea |

rte

ALR IMPROME TL Lt Pan

Pata

THAT owe

MONARCH

restart the

psyche evel of Su Furnii et rapped will rapidly be

EMULATE OH An

cM

wri WER Bee TORCH MINISTRY

IOFORI=0TO 15: READ C: INEI,C: NEXT

20 OPENOUT': MEMORY 2999

20 MODE O: LOAD" 300%)

40 CALL 3003 .4£PFFE, 16383; CALL S008, 40956, 37000

50 READ AS: WHILE A$. READ BS

60 PORE VAL('"4&"' + A$), VAL("&" = BS): READ AS:WEND

TOFOR A™ = BO PORE A‘.

Mir [CTE

_ "END":

VAL ("&" | BS): NEXT 80 CALL 4000

IOCODATA 0,13,26,12,24, 9, 18, 10, 20, 1,2, 11, 4,8,.3,6, L081, 2, 102, 28, 1084, 18, 1085, D, 1084, 7, 1095, 30, LOBE, 60, LOBC, 16, END, 2A, CO, 1B, 11, 50,00, 19, TE. FE, AB,CA, 21, 18,

co

S2/ANUARY 1986 AMSTRAD ACTION sneaky gumesters cari here

Dean a:s0sentihe relevant

1.8, to make thi

AS, ae ee ee , ine would pe

&1660 TO 4£168D: READ |

mniem

ory locations for redefining the playing keys. These can be input

inthe format

Line number'between 80 and 9) PORE address,code for Key required(ses ASCII manua.)

81 PORE 106,31 The full list Ol agaresses is

ee ™ - i =e oer . hk Obl Gael

kup/swop 2BFA

Ip 2CBe

7 a ae mM ot nF ee - dn Ye > &

i a

we

| ole

a

andes if. |

‘abortkey a the,

More Dun Darach

Congratulations to Nick Chaplin of Maidenhead and KJ Sandell of § Torpoint for sending in the first solutions to Dun Darach. With their § help we've compiled some more cryptic clues. :

L. Art lovers shoul [el of obje OMaments 2. It snot just furs that Bren likes

7 PTeCIOUs metal wil] get you quidance as well

3. An ancient experimenter in metals hides a secret location and object. Take this to the place where you can worship a half- way listening orice and you'll qela key

4. Take this to the street that ‘we all have to bear’ and open the sec-

d drop a quar- cis tO Gain @xpensive

siti some playing nps for when u don't cheat (for legitimate Scores etc)

Despite what the instructions say, there doesn | seem to be any use for the non-shootng mode but the sphere 1s needed to shoot your way thro age several Bar

riers When shooting through barriers try me ot Oo Dump inlo any hing as you move up and down because this will lose you quite a lot of paeyche To gain psyche resi the see

ithe corner of the room next In anexit and move tinand ourof he adjacent room Be careful not oad your psyche banks 499 is the lemat

i) es = a The nasties

Ker it

Io overt which chase you iround and sap your psyche are a major hazard. you enter a room which contains a nasty

Which 1s difficull to get past. go ul of the room and come back in again until it is Ina Detter place SOMAeti mes it gets stuck behind o1 inside a stahonary object Be car

eful not to overload while doing this The seeker haqonally than it Goes sdeways Ths if Worth re ng when geting through the gap im a photon thruster or sneaking past ony some of the rocms with he zontal phi ton esis rs only have a small gap. nde of the Don't try ce hard to get Iria Wt these rooms it's impo

+ wilhoul cheating

your psyche

Pr a ee Liar # 2

TT etre T

“WET

rel aoor

6. The TV-rock will quide you to

[the sorceress

6. A magic

Wicked Lady appeal

7. An 0} secretion will get you the means to enter the jail

8 Palindromes provide a

combination

makes The ff

Tieete PLES

ysier ‘3

re) re ra] oe 2 4 ae Fair

Pha - ~ ¥ ey aS 7; rh Ch to tot Tl a tai ET i] hic Spee y re i: * u am} ami 1OSe energy Dow 1s Dy | a I ” ; : Tt. ce i i y. ine usting justia oe =| T — = | | 7 =" War ri

Rar L

Five Eo

I = way _ :

eh ie —_a oh

deer ad a =

=r ht FT “)s AT Yh ‘ee ee a ee. a ‘i a oe oe ee mh i | a 5 rj ——— —. fy PORE late AF) Ro Ac yy ah FOR -E 12645,0)

12849 0:POKE 1285¢

TI r “a ed m roblems a ag = = = it rT ie Gr? ceo. = he i haat = bb oe from

— hiss oS eee Re Hendon has sent in a nice set o! me | iy rh FE my 5 “*y Ce oe | pokes thai neabanl antiner ian

King cown, give Lrifiriite: lives, allow you to starton any of the four screens, remove the qhosts and even speed the qame up i you want te! Just type the listing in with the options you RUN it and icllow the

prompts for loading the qame

you

Weal

OPENOUT''DUM

= Hi i

MEMORY

D''' POKE D.&Co CALL &10c3e AD"

ALOAT ry

rey

= je jo.

C } KE Sl6A6,&C9 (Pr

mer rcla cking down} IRE &109F O (infinite lives)

PIKE &l0A4.n (n must be |

number between | and 4

depe snding on which level you

Want ta start at:

TOPOKE &148C &Cy (1

gh osts)

HO PORE &1TD) Oo |

game up, leave it C

Wart it)

80 CALL &1000

eur everniis

=, “a *)

Semoves

(speeds the utif you don't

| gt en

| the ice fear owoy

4

i a he. ee . vA

= — = =

tiraleka At Dee laawr . ' Childe O: MEME Yor} 6 ile Bb

a ¥ - a 4 Oo ree ~R Ee ge EO Some

ie Game

As Morkin progresses north- wards if is a good idea fo move

‘Luxor east. Doomderk will track

the wormth in Luxor’s ring ond send

| most of his armies after him, leaving

MAorkin's Doomguard. 2. he ice crown i6 in the Tower of

path free from

| Cecrorn.

3. You will need Farflame the Dragon Lord or Lorgrim the Wise to destroy the ice crown, or you could throw it in loke Mirrow.

4. Wait in the mountains of Death and let night fall. In the morning nip into the tower, grab the crown and get back to the mountains. This means night won't fall while you're on the sloins of Despair allowing

ithe armies to kill Morkin,

Fray oh

Pa BY ak

The war game 15 tian Nir bbe aia! =

: More

quest all ¢ rewarding if noriniwaras to atiract

A i i Orn

) the warlords so

Move Morkin

Galaarecuiers, GUpton,is

massacre the computer oppe- nent with some crafty tactice,

When. the: ‘computer is on SNe

always defend against the run for the

first two downs and the pass on third ‘down. Keep to this defence ond the computer witlsoon be puriting, The com-

puter only goes for a fourth down if it needs four yards oF lesa, In thid event faye choose the amor yordage

Te ‘computer will occasionally ew 08 first or second down but don't Jet this upset your defensive plan, The ‘computer will also throw from the

pocke! after the two minute waming aceappecbry” cea Sh. ch, < Hi

ing a pass defence. When you ore in

shovel lac only be a re — concn ied of oes ee fe arene at ‘three yords or less far «first down. On

Potee POT ihe

Fei)

I | | | zr

tips to nelp with d

Morkin’s quest is the quickest and easiest way of completing the dame and if you stick to the following t yOu Sf ldin't Yo too much tr

| Nolet yea teu pation tae long,

back with sonie tips on how to

mash, mangle and generally |

? next two ~ otherwise: the defence will

always expect the pass, You need Fhe.

edd run to keep them unsettied ‘ond | nicepilble to Hrs pen, : !

ofpud AMSTRAD ACTION JANUARY

of the crown

they won tf be scared.

2. When Lords hove no armies avold battles with skulkrin, wolves, dragons and ice trolls. | J. Reecrult os many Lords as posible = you'll need all the help you can get. 4, Don't let Morkin do anything except | move, restin villages and absorb the ice since he cannol recruit mony people

5. Morkin can recrult Fowkrin the skul- krin and Farflame the Dragon Lord. The latter is mighty in battle and can fly holhway around Midnight in one day, & The Lord of Shodews is NNW from

fece

the start location and you can get him some horses if you move WW again.

7. Corleth the Fey can get to the Citadel of Gard and recruit the Lord of Gard in one day if he posses south through the liths searching for the cup of dreams.

8. When attacking the Citadel of Ush- @ gorak approach Ii from across the fj mountains since the three entrances to ff the plains ore quorded by o Citadel.

BW odds: If you're going forundo it ‘on first down and then poston the

Brian Jacks superstar Challenge Patrick Guest has sent in some ‘ } SHOU he iS you get the

; a ELE ay ak a wats |

~_ nos yal Ls four sé ty el nis 100 metres keep the left and right keys pressec and you'll

have full power ail the way

800 metre cycling: keep the space Daz pressed and once into qear press the left an d right {keys giving you nearly Tull power Football: as you round the third cone run to the far right and just after the fourth cone disappears move left so that you score in the lar left of ihe goal.

swimming: press the space bart breathe attar avery six strokes

a 7 ee | Ff eal tas Nase Pe :

10 CLS ITPRINT: IMPUT*START ROOM! 1-

BP):*, start

13 IF start<1] OR start>e8? THEN G OTO 40 ELSE start®=HEXSi(start-1) 20 PRINT: INPUT"NO. OF OBJECTS(1- i73):"*, object

| 23 IF object<1 OR object>175 THE | N GOTO SO ELSE object ®=HEX®(obje

94 JANUARY 1986 AMSTRAD ACTION Giving yous helping hanes

| ct)

30 GOTO 35

40 GOTO 10

320 CLS:G0OTO 20

55 CLS: PRINT: PRINT: PRINT “Insert tape then press play and any key =

5S? WHILE INKEYS®=**:WEND

640 MEMORY S2000:LOAD*'*: MODE 1

70 DATA AS, 62, 5E,46,92,42,A7,62, CD,AG,62,1E,A?,82, BB, AA,62,C2, AB ,82,DB,AC,82,80,AD,82, 3E

BO DATA Se, 62,ro00n

70 DATA 21,77, number

100 DATA &2,64,0

110 DATA 4,85,0,15,63,0,30,85,0,

If you've been having trouble with the fortress at Kuhn-Lin then Ray Mangan of Banbury can show you the order in which to shoot the windows and at what angles of elevation.

3350 DATA 66,d2,¢d,86,32,48,79 260 DATA c3,8b,87

s70 °

2680 RESTORE 170

270 FOR a=47152 TO 49287: READ dt 400 POKE a, VAL (*&"+d@)°WEXT a 410 RESTORE 70

4270 poka=47206

430 READ x®: READ y®:READ zs

440 IF z®=*willy"* THEM CALL ECOO 0

4350 IF z3="room" THEN GOTO 470 460 IF z273="*numSer* THEM GOTO 300 470 POKE poka, VAL (*&:"*+x8)5POKE p okatl, VAL (*°k"+y8@):POKE poka+2, VA Li "kh" +293) >: poka=poka+s

480 GOTO 430

470 POKE poka, VAL (*k"*+x®):POKE p oka?! , VAL (*k"+y®):POKE poka+?2,VA Li"*h*+start®) ipoka=pokat+s: GOTO 4 #0

500 POKE poka,VAL("k"+=®):POKE p okatl, VAL(*L"*+y@) SPOKE poka+2, VA Lit*k"+objectS) -poka=poka+3: GOTO $60

/ 53° Fags® 52.5%

\\ )

120 DATA F2,83,FE,F3,83,3,F4,83, DC, FS,83,C4,F4,63,90,F7,83,3&,Fe

netor yo yen : seth om If you ea

ome eee ae.

,83,4,F9,83,28,FA,83,64

130 140 150 1&0 170 180 10 200

DATA DATA DATA DATA DATA DATA DATA DATA DATA DATA DATA

) DATA

DATA

| DATA

DATA DATA DATA DATA DATA DATA DATA DATA

Son in exchange for a broken

7d,6e,0

0,?a,c?

aa, Fa, 0

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lifting implement.

ere ae

AMSTRAD Perr ET 5K EY ape to tape backup utility

(Must not be used to infringe copyright laws) Multi colour display and $0 very user friendly.

Gives full header details and choice of saving speed. Full on screen instructions and prompts.

FREE Peep a code program, for finding the hidden words in adventure games, etc. Tape f £6. 99

AMSHELP. « tric om soon w

Better than most, AMSHELP will even transfer ASCII filas. Also automatically adds a relocator for those programs that overwrite the disc memory area. FREE Disc deprotector, list protected programs, etc.

Powerful CPM style utility with many features making easy work of disc file handling, including the unerasing of erased files. “No disc user should be without this utility” (Independent Amstrad review). FREE Disc deprotector, list protected programs, etc.

£6.99 Disc £10.99

utility ta date

Dise £12.95

SNAPSHOT ¢ t om

50 powerful it will back up those long headerless programs. Offers a choice of saving speeds. A mustfor disc users who require fast loading of tapes that cannot be transterred to disc.

Prices include packing and postage INTERLOCK SERVICES LTD. 123b Brent Street London NW4 = yy mals aol: 01-202 8727

‘LOAD

Send your Cheques/POs (Sterling only) or stamp and address for list to:

faa LOAD & RUN, DEPT, NAA P.O.BOX 123 is @ DARTFORD DA‘ SAA OUR POLICY FOR 1985 IS TO PROVIDE SOFTWARE THAT EVERYONE CAN AFFORD. CASS DISC PITMANTYPINGTUTOR £7.95 £11.55 | ASSAULT ON PORT TASWORD 4640 - (20.25 STANLEY 6.55 - MPM F796 £11.95 DOPPELGANGER £6.95 THEILLUSTRATOR } ELIDON F775 (FOR QUILL) C13.95 £16.95 } GENESIS £8.25 wae, GEOFF CAPES STOCKING FILLERS ee jaime DON'T PANIC £3.50 | cia cong WILLOW PATTERN cso - z etn REET = = - FORMULA 1 C185 - es ee tcy fe SOUL OF A ROBOT fia5 - eet £6 95 sOULO O80 C1 Be ati s earn = on res a | (Pease onder 2 stocking files or | stocking GRANDPRIXRALLYI £6.95 E1005 sierwithone full price game, or mare) VIEW TO A Ki fa95 - GREMLINS 775 = AMSOFTS”DISCSBOX10 £37.95 CYAUS ll CHESS (795 £1195 REXELS" OISC BOX AED ARROWS fo 95 (LOCKABLE) £18.50

MASTERFILE 464 £2025 £2450 RS232 (INTERFACE (Amstrad) £45.95 (£1) PLUS MUCH MUCH MORE ALL DISCOUNTED!!!

LOAD & RUN THE AMSTRAD MAIL ORDER SPECIALIST. RING TO CHECK NEW RELEASES NOW UK: All prices include VAT and PAP in UK. Add PAP in brackets for hardware.

For European & Overseas: All prices exclude VAT & inciude P&P in Europa. | Elsewhere add 509 extra for PAP hardware outside Europe acd £7.50.

THIS 15 ONLY A SELECTION OF NEW RELEASES AND RECENT ADOITIONS TO OUA STOCK PLEASE RING FOR LATEST RELEASES EAO.E

| (Near Goodge ST Tube Stn.) Open 6 days a week 9.00am = 18.00pm. | Barclaycard and Access hotline (for orders only}: 01-631 4627 | Despatch same day subject to availabi lity.

THE COMPUTER CAME UP WITH ON

Our te OUICKSHOT 1 | .JovSTiCe 12H ane = = R.A PRICE sycrnuss 1 ccs am 76 LOAD OF THE RNGS 48 11.965 wiry! OFFICE i 56 i COMMANDO 1% 760 CAR E Bat 7 MATCHEAY 1s 7.50 BAUS LEE bas 1s PAMELA THE LTH a. in LORDS OF MAH bth es Nata THA 15 7S SOACLAY « (DISK) 114945 17 ALLERIA TEA BoB is FIGHTES FILST SK jig 116 KNIGHT PRE as “ni AOLAND IN SPACE Ota ey 116 AMD T '. SEACHHEAD (DISK) Las 12.40 THULNS FOUAIME AS 148 6.7 THEY S00 A MLA 10 145 70 Piet T Ae’). i A | 14 i | TERNATIONAL CARAT 4a | TE RALIEOILIL INES 14 55 STEVE TAVIS SNOGKER 195 rr ROCK A WRESTLE a 750 SPY WS 195 760 rh em LS bed WLGRERS | Ape 1 Tad SCOOT DID WAAL be 1% i715 COMMAT Ln TT) £5 dts at i” a4 CAND PP PLY 7 a £45. “a Oy 1% 694 GA MOOG FIT BL as | i TAA i oo La Ls | i VaSHT «6S ah 4 is Th voevG Om 7% 6.5 REN 5% | WAT OF EOP OGG FS’ Le ra Pet bis. | othe js P| RCT He Cy Fy Ln TO Te ie A a) papa ay 7 i | | MALE a5) 7 10 GRAND FRE — Deja 11 is | F SUNS BOWE im th wala ae 1s 149 | FUE jE MATES Ff 1 NSTC Oata 1s 1144 | 0 UACas CHUA Et a] Pa MAS TEACALE rE 1885 GLA Ate he 7 MOT y a TSE Bs) ca. | AGMTER PILOT ee i RED Wino ‘ss ‘6 OFLWHO ae ih Draw | Baty irs ia OF. WHO — DISK ba 17 Baud Ov Mice — (186 Th "HSE ADAAIT ja os te. WiC WAY (NCO TE pr is HE WIE CHESS Peay 1s TH iE Toh 1 ot = area) wee Lae | Be pa Teal tie Pe | TRIVIA Hg 6.95 00 $TUNT WIDER ag 75a SOUTHERN BELLE bo bh NIGHT LORE Ewe 750 STMIRCE RY Lat a8 er POS 8 1 ALIFE pa) F.50 Pe A De POOTBAL i en | THE Gea S CA La 7.58 Wii 1h PARADISE + | TL Ariel HOA 44 7.98 50 GAM man a4 TS | Uy DAAGCH 1% Too CODERS MAI) 1 a6 ils | IMPOSSIBLE Wissen 184 f 6a 1 BCuCING Bas 1% BPS PLAYER RA! 1 7.5 AMIWA TIO STRIP POSES Bas cia | SPGLE 1 AC Oe 3.98 iar APRAR MOLE a8 raw 10 STAR STRIKE am be 10. CYRUS 11 CHESS - DISK 1.98 11.95 MASTEANLL re 19 THE ELECT ROE STUBIO) Pe 19. Bi 17.98 TH AA RAG a bh OAL SOMES G45C fast ee o.Fs

Cheques/P.O TO: $C 5 - (Dept AA3), P.O. BOX 394 London N.15 GJL. (Mail order

|| address only). TEL 01 - 800 - 3156. (S.A.E for list) Europe add £1.00 per tape. Elsewhere alcost.

if you would Ilke to pick up your discount software please bring your copy ol this | }

OR

advert to Compucentre Unit 5 227 Tottenham Court Road London W1

a. i KA TRA-DRAW > THE LA TEST DSc A SEC ag THE | ORK hos Wepanlni iT PO OLS PREDICTIC O8 THE AMSTRAD CPC 464 (WITH DI

prensa Ct MPU TERS

VIDEND

OF £60 Og |

E FIRST eh

MARINO A TOT al

PLUS MINOR DIVIDENDS

-j. RB. Beckett, Shettreld

@ Supplied with Database containing data on over 12,000 matches since 1980!

@ You update the Database each week — but no tedious typing, as team and division names already in program!

@ Errors easily corrected —the program even checks your entries!

@ Comprehensive instruction manual and menu driven program easy to use, even for a newcomer to computing!

@ Will forecast the least likely draws for those who prefer to bet on fixed odds!

@ Buiit in perm generator — complete your coupon direct from the screen!

® Compatible with the DK’tronics speech synthesiser — the only pools prediction program to read you its predictions!

@ Each copy is individually updated with all results up to the date of dispatch — no typing in enormous lists of previous matches before using the program!

@ Full after sales service, including Database updates and end of season upgrades!

AMSTRA-DRAW 2 (ON DISK ONLY) £12-95 ORIGINAL AMSTRA-DRAW ON TAPE (NO SPEECH) £9-95 (Cheques/P.O.s payable to B. §. McALLEY) AMSTRA-DRAW (Dept Aa), 1 Cowleaze, Chinnor, Oxford OX9 4TD (Tel: 0844-52426)

AMSTRAD ACTION JANUARY 1986 95

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— a oar ‘which cChoees youand Soaps your peyche

PRYCHE SUPPLY whichodde 59 To your peyche |

entering this Causes instant death

bomb raqvred To cross thi barrier Ghoot hrough this barrier ; +nrusters ogcillate achone ecey else ee ‘entering This room Tronm@ports you '¢ engriid ov anit agpbate direction of the arrow youwill pe Trapeed in a

| | PHoTaN THRVGTERS |

SWOP : :

AR a Te

DEADLY FUNGUS DOOR OPENER TRANSPORTER KEY

| =e goo!

a ee Ee dd

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START FOR EACH SECTION EVIL COMPUTER —

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|

He TRANSMAT

EASY TAPE TO DISC TRANSFER

This professionally used and respected utility has set the standard in tape to disc transfer that others attempt to mimmick. What the press think of Transmat:

* Voted No. 5 in the Serious Programs Top Ten Chart by Amstrad Action Readers. Nov. 85 i We | y

* Maximum review ratings in PCW Aug 85 Cwece

* Highly recommended by AMSCLUB

* “Very easy to use utility” PCT July 85. Also selected for Best of the Bunch

Transmats many features include:

Easy operation * Auto or non auto modes

Relocator for programs which overwrite the disc area Erase * Catalog files * Rename

Disc header reader * Select user area

A or B drive working * Transmats itself

+e mh &

Cassette £7.95 inc. Disc £11.45 inc. Now available on ROM, only £19.95 inc.

NEW PRIDE PROMISE SPECIAL OFFER Wie are ao confaent in our grolesssan

aly manidectured and packaged sofas that veer date ask yew to slo Lea cheaper comparable caenmercia! program that can maten thea hagh Sancdards of any ore of our products und we will retund fhe drAarenee in

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ALL AMSTRAD CPC MODELS

(NOW DISC PRICES ARE EVEN LOWER)

LANGUAGES

Bosca Qur wuagiler ida virtually full implemenialion of the

Fonitea

PRIDE UTILITIES LTD. (Dept. AA) f Chalton Heights Chalton, Luton Beads. England Tal: OS82 411666

THE BEST FOR YOUR AMSTRAD COMPUTER

UTILITIES

Some programs are sold on the under: standing that they must not be used to infringes copyright,

ODDJOB THE DISC UTILITY PACKAGE YOU HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR

A complete disc utility with all the programs YOU have told us you wanted all together in one amazing package. A total of 39k of disc space used.

Just (ook af some of the features: | * A complete directory editor with which you can examine the disc , directory and easily alter the contents * Recover erased programs * kidd programs from the directory * A complete sector editor to examine and/or alter the contents of files in HEX or ASCII | Map out your disc and locate where files area on the disc Prevent programs from accidentally being erased * An intelligent disc copier that can copy those damaged’ non-standard Sectors on a single or twin drive system

+ ©

* Format in half the time on ether drive. Ideal for 5.25 inch second drives } * Transfer your little used programs,‘files from disc onto tape to reclaim | @xpensive disc space

* Increase the speed of your disc drive by up to 20%

* Load and list protected BASIC programs

* All instructions are supplied on disc on a separate help menu

* Simple to use with single key selection | | © Makes full use of the disc drive } © Compatible with all AMSTRAD CPC computers

All this for the incredible price of £12.95 on disc only

ALL PRICES INCLUDE VAT AND P & P For Europe add £1.00 per title For Australasia add £1_75 per tithe For Rest of World add £1.60 peer tithe IVC. Ale AMAs

OUR EVAOPEAN AGENTS 75-Solt Microtraceng | Postfach: 2361-Buro, Ooktorbeng 20 B24 Berchtesgaden West Gearenarry FAT SOFTWARE 65 Rue Ou Tard, 3300 Bardo France Cantac! above for details

LU4 SUF

Quality utilities from our fast, reliable and friendly mo order service. All enquiries with s.a.e. answered. Excellent discounts to the trade,

fast export service, 48 hour UK turnaround all orders. In fact a complete professional guaranteed service.

High Quality

|

— 7

jm me ee

Pascal language which both compiles and runs code extremoly quickly, Choos between the Amadis vorsion (Cassetie £20.95, diac E3405) wilh full support of the Amatrad firmware or our CPM version [disc £90.65) with file hamlling and full scroen oiler - tL,

re

A feat, interactive compiler, very ulise to the Kernighan’Ritchie definition with the exception ol floating poini, © is used by many of the world’s leading ealtwore houses and here is your chance to em why. Choos the casselle version at £2405 of the Viluefor-money dist version at Cana whith supports bolh Anmados end CP/M und comes with a (ull seneen editor ~ ELM

Dev pat

The standard 40 developmen! eystem consisling of an wiluressanbler coupled with a disareembler dubugger in one package. ‘The cagsetlé version [£21.95) ia ideal for beginners while the ClM version (Dovpectt) £90.95) takes foll advanioge of discs lu give you an amazing number of foelures with full screen editor (EDa0), macros, conditions

assembly. virtual disking, (ull operater-precedonce

afithmatic, disussembly to cise imterprelalive

executllon and much, muck more

Please ‘phone or write for full technical details/export prices/credit card orders/friendly help - we want to hear from you.

HiSoft, 180 High Street North, Dunstable LU6 1AT (0582) 696421

98, ANUARY 1986 AMSTRAD ACTION

Cones on caebetie (£7.05) of dist (12.95) and allows you to create, edit. animale and print your own font and choncier cdisigns Supplied with 6 pre-disignol fonts ind easy-to-use acroen dump RSX for tee on DAPT or Epson compatible printers

lhe Krife

A powertul file and goctor odilor for wee with CTYM Allows you lo recover accidentally erased files. patch voir dine directly, colind-piete sectors. search your dike for a pattern, oclit sectors in situ ete. etc, Cones pomplole with an extenalve manual thal explains CP/M's directory format ane oowte only £12.95,

lhe Yoerch

A dise-based tutorial thal explains the mysteries of the CP/M ipcraling fysiom Io the rei Une Supplied on the <eame cisc ts 6 scroen-leee| men evelein aliowing you to creale manus of your favourite programs on disc and select them ensily and instantly. All this for only £12.06,

ae

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- Microcomputer Software

EAPERT SYSTEMS Tour Health Gives you ox pert advice an nutrition, health and diet: wurks dul vour tonal dietary rejuiremonts, enw TT vonon how to keep fil and healthy and has 6 wealth of information on food values, Only CAS

Your Horouacope

Calculates your binthchart given the lime and place al your birth, dedooes information about your character and personality and gives the outlook day by day aged wp oped Koi lodge och more accurate than newspaper astrology. Your Hormscope is both fun and fascinating to use. Only 26.05

Your Health ond Your Horoscope are the firet of a rancw ol expert system EM ba ations that we shal] be reiaadcdg inthe neat lew months watch out for Your Hand Reveals. (he newt in the series

Are you all fingers and ‘thumbs when faced

| with aQWERTY

| keyboard?

These carefully designed training programs will get even the most unlikely typist up to a standard of proficiency you wouldn't have imagined possible.

Check these features of both the courses:

For further information contact the typing training specialists: lansystLtd

41 North Rd London N7 SDP Tel (01) 607 5844

———— EE eee

Teach yourself touch typing

| seeeeeens ld enjoy doing it! for only £29.95 rrp (inc vat & p&p)

We charge £58.65 for sista the same programs on the |BM PC and other computers.

WHICH SPECIALIZED COURSE DO YOU NEED?

lankey Typing Crash Course

| for newcomers to computing, takes you | round the whole keyboard as fast as

possible, teaching the basics of touch typing in aslittle as four hours. its unique fast-track approach lets you

put your Amstrad to use right from the

Start. Plenty of interesting practice sessions then help you reach speeds of 40 words a

ities more.

* ComplieeBdoad Training al at its best hamessing the power of your Amstrad to make learning both fun and fast.

% Specially configured for either PCW8256 or CPC6128.

% Instant feedback on how well you are doing, stroke by stroke much faster

% Proper typing: whole words and sentences ngnt from the start: no boring nonsense typing drills.

* Needs CP/M Plus

OTY

PCW8256

lankey Typing Crash Course .........

lankey “Two Fingers” to Touch ...

t — } = . - - | |

Access Card No.

CPC6128

|

| pcws256 [— romans

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|

Order Value

£29.95 each

"NAME Mr/Mrs/Miss

initials | | BBRSe

Sumame

IANSYST ORDER FORM

.s.

‘Two fingers to Touch Typing’ Conversion Course Gives new touch typing skills to experienced two-finger typists.

In this unique course you build on your own knowledge and skill. You do not ff have to start again from scratch and your typing speed hardly drops while you are § learning. |

Four intensive sessions will change your habi lit of a life-time. |

* Kavcard display flashes the letter it expects you to type: no need to search on the keyboard.

% Full progress record to read on screen or print.

% Adapts to your needs: you set speed and accuracy targets and decide how often to repeat lessons.

*% Hints and tips on computers and typing spread through the courses.

% Realistic Typing: the computer word-

wraps and follows your typing even if

you make big mistakes.

Date

p SH2H2I47 | TT TT TTT TTT

[ oe | SPT TTT TTT All prices include VAT & postage and packing

e+ WH purchased by credit card the name and address must be the

Expiry Date.

| (PLEASE ALLOW MAXIMUM OF 25 DAYS FOR DELIVERY) SUBJECT TO AVAILABILITY AND OUR NORMAL TERMS OF BUSINESS ALL | PRICES & SPECIFICATIONS SUBJECT TO ALTERATION WITHOUT NOTICE.

we ADDRES i. Sranccanseuneneaner acs ninadnccaet

. POSTCODE .

ALY FRIAR IIE ois ov cv ccocansvevansvanndedanantccscessaunupacieecce-a: (Most Orders will be despatched within 7 days) POST YOUR ORDER TO:

lansyst Ltd

41 NorthRd

London N7 SDP

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LNIWIONPaeY BOLITS

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NLLNOD KBR

DVIING eh: Prthe| SYOUIAD SWOoY GAL” BEAL Malang CON

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I] —infomat -Bl-—bakery DAdé— danger (gas bomb) Ml -—map room Pl —plant room

GR1-— games room

[2 —infomat

M2 —music room GR2—games room I3-infomat

IC] —ice cream

5D —soil depot DR—-—director

HH —hot house

Al —astronomy

OR - oratory B2—banker DA3—danger(bomb) DA4-danger(sonic) DAS—danger(radiation) ol] —safety DA6—danger(vacuum) GR3- games room MC — M-central CL—contro]

SM -— sanctum

DAT - danger(nerve) BR-—bouer DA8-—danger(virus) BA— bar LAB—laboratory

LUO PBRUoBIOT BOOP Is Or oO MAB KK ooOoMND

BMP OMe COP ORP ea Se TOC S STIS TOO WIWOaOo

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Other 'S LAIR for Commodore 64, Amstrad and Spectrum

| bubble bus software 87 High Street, Tonbridge, Kent TNS 1RX | Telephone: 0732 355962 Telex: 95151

—— ab i dee ee ee ee

sieeiacietc anecies ane t Some, oa a Ls wed " = rare pret iat fons ae a

Devil's Crown Jet Boot Jack

Pa Ahhh! 543,780 Jeremy Nargi, Hove. 66.925 Flemming Pedersen, Denmarx -.=% 38,730 MA Wlayion, Blackpool, | 7B OOO Jeremy Narqi, Hove.

12.390 Flemming Pedersen, Denmark.

a

Electro Freddy Me JetSet Willy 2,150 Simon Dooley, Bolton, 1"

1,870 Andrew Pounds, Thornton Cleveleys. 1,670 Claire Johnson, Sutton Coidheld. | BO

Air Traffic Control T6% K Clarke, Telford. — 10%: Andrew Feeley, Whitefield

aL

25 items Harpai Kooner, Birmingham. 9 jtems Peter jones, Maidstone

= : Baers = Agee Te at 7

Ea Alien Break-In jis | 237 400 Iai innon, G : Er*Bert ie Juggernaut 7 : § Cl aery \ pea Sol lea saa ie aad He 126.850 Richard Denton, Torquay. Ie 9.500 Michael Speers, Donaghadee. Esnagall ps 111,000 Lawrence Smith, Newport, i 55 shots Stephen Gray, Bath 32,500 Peter Glasgow Livingston | Biller Gorilla = oa gees : ae | TO) FOO Gay Nussaw Sinke-on- ii 56 shots P A Hyer. Cheltenham. 4 Everyone's Wally ’ ee : dee Ateneo on-Trent & shote Sheil ister. Hay bee tah 31 ,OUU Tan Linn, Cannock. 65 shots Sheila Bannister, Hayes. | ee |,67T0 Antony Critehiey. Bracknell, | 110,000 Huw jones, Paisley. , oe be 670 Paul Carruthers, Lytham. Android One ts vod : | e athe ere ae a 1,550 Mark Pinner, Bedford. Kona Strikes Back 7,680 David Litherland, Boltor res ; phe beann | aire sa a oe | 635,600 C Johnson, Sutton Coldfield : ea Fighting Warrior Mee 185, 100Phillip Gower, Newport. oa | | bs P Jott 3 Perinat Narqi, Hove EN 74,620 Michaei Clark, Midlothian fee 100,030 Frank Griffiths, Birkenhead. 122-000 N i] Ae ae har ae = 54,220 Christopher Hardy, Weymouth. : cap ra sin : a mf : ae ay 1 rs Py } 1. fa _ | 20,000 Lawrence Smith, Newport. ies 31.890 Kevin Nixon, Rotherham oe wweIwerD ee fe 22.420 Phillip Gower, Newport. i Fireant 62,220 Christoper Winstanley, Preston. Blagqer the a) aru) Ml F oo a “hy i eS maj 7 1 | ve a ee fe 40,200 Mark Burford, Leamingion Spa. | 44,240 Peter Merry, Dumiries. 19408 TLaninde South Creake si 18.200Gordion Edgar, Buckie. # Perey aig Asean arin Hi) fe Locomotion aqa7 Tt aur fer. Lown. 1. ‘ Cae a0 029 Matihew Chester, Louth is Frank Bruno's Boxing | (2) Lawrence Smith, Newport. leat be 29 720 Matthew Burbedgeé, Situngbourne 192 lain McKinnon, Glasgow. a aisciewart Hackley, Poynton * 29,190 Martin Johnson, Hull | 16S Jeremy Nardi, Hove 34 G40 P: eat Ch ae eis ms} 25,600 Andrew Pounds. Thomton Sol es al ete pe ama A Cleveieys Manic Miner 17,118 John Cussen, Portsmouth | We 250 112 Wayne Learoyd, Bramley ot eS y Fruit Machine IM S94 959 Martin Luise, Solihull. ae hae ptr ee, e reg SO Richard Kiddle Wisbech oO? Bra Go roaon Edgar, Buckie soesicitngh cp cheers : ce £29.40 Joseph Dittman, Wigan

4,521 David Millar, Johnstone.

3,481 Robert MacCallum, Edinburgh. £22.00 Harvey Case, Orpington. Minder

£12,666 David Gibbon, Bearpark. Fruity Frank £12,000 Mark Tozer, Canvey Island, 16,075 Gary John Shanks, Livingston. £5,950 Paul Sutcliffe, Shaftesbury 15,600 N.Miller, Tonbridge. (el 10,000 Darren Ithell, Birkenhead. Moon Buggy

159,100 Lawrence Smith, Newport. Galactic Plaque 110,930 Patrick Grant, Coventry

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Chiller 8,700 lan Grainger, Wingate.

6,500 lain McKinnon, Glasgow. 6,400 Simon Dean, Rutiand.

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Chimera ea 2 PaaS ) : eae : =a 100,610 Joanne Kingdon, Yeovil 50,500 Sharon Manning. S ler | Hove i . . ee . : a Be 44 1901 Walker, Liverpool. Mutant Monty Scant wekenax plete Ee 44,950 A Wagstaffe, Whitchurch. pipet Bbaleeselerensepent sR : Gauntlet fe 43,180 Alastair Kerr, Plymouth.

267,780 Richard Denton, Torquay 11,490 Paul Hyett, Cheltenham.

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256,430 Gary Callan, Exeter. Oh Mummy

yee cee I 5.030 Jason Grandin, Cardiff. | 9 470 Claire Johnsen ‘Sutton Colalield 1,050 Samantha Bell, Maidenhead Es 1,642 Stewart McIntyre, Bishopbr.ggs. 8,000 Jonathan Eden, Crowthorne;

111 DG Scot, Dereham Gilligan's Gold h oe Px On the Run , | Codename Mat I Ea inc [artoon, eatin Couinels Petree ie cecal

23,960 Christopher Hardy, Weymouth.

285.905 Andrew Clarke, Hillmadon

176,850 Alan Stenson, Catterick Garrison. stacats Seas Harvey. Weymouth 18,325 Flemming Pedersen, Denman : ' 1 1 r J in , oe oe line : I " = a. a setts ae ee | 136,760 William Jenkins, Cramlington 8.330 Jeremy Nargi, Hove. ape

SESE erecta t 70,130 Richard Denton, Torquay. |

7,322 Keith Millward, Chinnor. 59,490 Stewart Hackley, Poynton.

Confuzion 73,715 Susan Morton, Garforth.

73,035 Mark Edmonds, Leigh-on-Sea 57,490 Jason Grandin, Cardiff.

Grand Prix Rally Il

54.474 Geoff Kerslake, Woodham Ferrers. 52,355 MI Farrell, Ryde.

51.685 Paul Schofield, Leeds

‘Raid

§40,450 Gerry Hughes, Cranleigh 374,300 jeremy Nargi, Heve | 361,650 Christopher Hardy, Weym

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Roland challenge ‘ Looks hike Martin Ellerker is 4 going tohavesome answering to oe ao. Where shall l start? (Re: Rol

and on the Ropes hi

nese LITIS NOT Doss ble fo Score 3

e r oo Pe

score — Er. } fier me = ae |

he end

necause the mimmum

a Doms YOU Cah Score is

Se acer Li LUTE et

Roland ~ kg 6 Di aging

Bolen) iT ee

eo re Nixon,

Path} dts

Ed x jeces Sues | ee |

Roland i in mh et vcd

i yori i Pah TAL = 7 Pas ie qt Lt mit oe! hi a ~ aly . ‘ = Tris. a eR I r : aT hati Wy AVY aT * ' ye ] Ll — ‘ iow Teel . ! wrence Smith, N Pras

in F 5 AotTison, bre Ti enih

= ft “i Bl | = Lh cecwell,

+ a | rT! be i Pe oe | f : Gg 4

have frame tor 1.3 MhOurs is a lond stint

r@ 15 Only TOOm on |

SF a

rt 2 i Al "| Le le by SOTA if nnsten

Well there you have i Martn, tell us how you mal il

David White

Bristol

mee hee nee tr ae |

L Lf et frig toy . f re i “Hd far ary ry J L re) Po

rhe eer Pi =F

ie Ss tive ?y

One

Tera iFOOd exer

i ay iy lia

Nag} iF. if mip

Minor error

With reference. to. your

score tables and particularly my wii high score in Compal Lyn. |

would at a minor

SITOr which [think Was Ty Fant. The

7

rj ‘a: Bn

ei ool

Hike to DPoMi ol

oe op ee et | Ta J a e@ score should read. 136 7S) aid not 135,750 as the score is

MUlplet DY units [hasten tc add that the score SCenvine anc t he highscore table 15 saved | io tape and can be dif required. | think thal fas Turing the Te Tables Mist be .ASs OToONe to cheatina and should be teqral part ol all games

Willam Jenkins Cramlington,

O] =f wii = LA

Pew’ 1

2xAaMine Qqelie fs

=e has on sel LT

oe Pi! ty

it agree re

with you mo!

heuf ihe sa'

4 bow ew Sr eae co }ey fed Jgn scores Du

nice &

7 L ae | ay il ollie se we Ii ti jo ish ‘iG EB £ imi y ifida

: - a e Foo Be oe ies et oe: De rh Wor fol ' MWTic 7 ris mie ‘y fhe « rae

ideed — fe ee]

Mini-challenges

rT

Naughty nought

Teday, 3/11/85, 1 bought my sec- ond copy of this brilliant mac Flicking through the pages | looked at the hi-score page and noticed my name and my score for OF Mummy. tt was wrong. It Was printed that I'd scored 20.0) When iTshou.d haye been 2,00

lo B See eee | ane Gicaeal

hes fi rh eo = Lat 4m pPo Dia) eee | ican OT am @ ah Hh ie | ak ear ae 2 iene to Ly the a ea | { 2 & =

O8- tare Toe Shots ome Soe)

a = 3 ing the extra | 1S it fo

Tits G22 C ah itt Soll or

jon Scruby, Teignmouth.

eh a i

Fy -

ae ee | / a Eee Fike as ee | = Sy Ph i Fy ae rh od bl 3 rau 7 feat el Gd Coo | e ee he Soles & ff “Ta = " '

5

TS 25a 1 a vi ee rh oI Liar a he f= F Bod Poe a | cee

: i if . ai Sh. oe 74h y ae a rr LT % nip #! POU Fp } oF ae Be MLe c= fab =

* 1 i 7 5 Oy ee ay Pry ry an ae Pa PF | Ong PP sa Thay (ity Fy da ee re

ha ee eo uF FP Tee aakata lia Tonal oee te LT, ee |

= | y Wes OF idee ld Ged de re at ae ae > i . ify FF a

asi ¥ pr i el, ems VF arf

score challenged: 97.949 on Sorcery and other scores not ending

im U.

Roinerham.

1 Lato.

Wi thing “=

Score challenged: 5

Be

Challenger and reason: Karl Steanson. Yo end of the score -— usta zero

roTes over 5

ican tqet aniné on the

1.000 Jon Harrier Attack

ry dleken, Srentw oom = H - mate % . ' ie IAT T orduay ery 2 A ee Pk ek serif EP aT =| T a | c Ving i ‘fey Te 11 ‘i rabee,e nia

orem in 1 um & ae

aw Marsh all. Li yea Ald

- Ly 4 Fs Te crystals ANG eee ree ae ‘te Koanny Macaskill, Alioa ag meee is Kenny Mac edocs 5 = —_ 2 ; a! aciit pee it pryatals George Keave :

Ta! - 7

Roland on the Ropes

: 7 iT is, ee ul i | (20 Tall CTs aad | ; : . : a a | lim Mitchell, Savas Maldes \ . Laer Potent eed : CP eae? = ey eee a A hy ; &fl \y i eS] if his foal! “al i "4

Sir Lancelot = 4, Anrew Fresicn . Stockporl Sorcery ae

T rae svar Se) rd

Lois Of peop =i

Sorcery Plus ert 2 its

" FP Pay ps L. 4 eal Fae

qT Ta 8 Mernal al a Li .

el Fh

Challenger and reason: Harvey Case at that stage without running out of fuel

score challenged: 35,000 0n ro sfoxing by Martin L

Challenger and reason: Andrew Pounds. 30,000 and this falls faster than the punch sco

urs

Score challenged: !

You can't

lily quick enougn

use

if 29

max amium bonus

@ Can increase it.

500 on DT's Decathion

Challenger and reason Lee inne Kingdon. There is no pause facil

ity, thereiore maintaining the sg 1S und because you can't stop for a rest. The the qame on and off several pip aoe added along.

Score challenged: Anything over 272,000 on Challenger and reason. stewart Russe possi ible to get past level 24. The score = iT £/4.000, ascertained from poking for 255 liv game patten rs,

yyy BO

500,110 by Gary! ey anks Stewart Russell, The jae so thew cic the er

score challenged: | 3, Challenger and reason.

cCrement is

al Benes = it 1s

oubtedly impossibic

person must have switched

his score as he went

a5 5

Be ol ay, snot humanly Ga ching that level is

'es and €xamini ney

iat hte

larcirike, nimum score in-

ron gS

mil =I mil

raril Soe pin?

We'd be delighted to hear fram all the accused if they think they've been wrongly struck off the tables —or were they really telling trying to mislead the great Amstrad public? Let's hear the case for the defence.

eS pPour vouchers

{Three Vouchers

2 i.

E400 | 5.00 £6.00 EV.O0 fg Cai) £0.20 | £0.25! fo an | ens

FREE!

£0.30 | £0.35 | £0.40 | £0.45 =

sd £0.80 | £0.90 | £1.90 |

with any order Over cS

A C18 data cassette. These cass ettes contain high-quality ‘ape especially designed for use by computer owners. They come in library case with blank inlay card.

(£7.50 | £1.65 £1.80 ergs

: = 100 [200 220 m0 £2.60 |

£1.10 | £1.20 | £1.39 eva) ero a aa

2 Se ee ep

, Oe cele ee a ee

with any order over £1 5

four pi f one of the following Your pick of one of the fo . games, each of which would normally cost £8.95! All are re- viewed in AA issue 1.

ROLAND IN THE CAVES

ancl ATH 727 (Anirog) FLIGHTPATH nit ‘3 ROLAND ON THE ROPES ; UNNERMAN (Ameo)

PA VLAN (Aumsc ROLAND GOES DIGGING

(Ameoft)

These pages are called Hot Stuff because they are HOT. They give you a way of getting your hands on sizzling software at sizzling discounts. Basically, you can use the form on p109 to order any Amstrad software you like, whether games or serious. And by collecting the vouchers printed in each issue of Amstrad Action you can obtain discounts of up to 209, — that's a massive saving of £3.00 on a £15.00 order!

The good news doesn't end there. Almost all orders qualify for a great, no-strings-attached FREE GIFT, rang- ing from blank cassettes to games worth £8. We know of no more exciting way of getting the programs you need.

' ee A

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WwW ‘he F ave quite what games ¥

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ex that by sending in vouche d prices. bptain considerable savings on the listed p sptal

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ADVENTURE STUNNER

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TOUS es i : . gene? a, icy \ 1 Wet ee bal i aT cassece smal : bai Ji 1 to! r ry on tie a at eal] a 1. 4) re Ce” thats ot vou uw b="

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HOW ORDERS ARE DEALT WITH When ates magazine was firs!

atic JTi | cay ras ac

pases |

, OUT mail order oper- ‘all with by asecparate company 5 in London. How ever this proved unsatisfactory and we are now running il our- selves here in Somerton Il speing takencare ci by the super-efficient Sue Taylor 3 from couple of hunared

i it eae aa Bae i= iF he oe am oo i 4 Td F T i Lea ine Be oe. He = of 7, = Bae! a os ae a ee ee ee ee Z

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a ea = i ln 7 F “ fl i Lot Se nrioi qe" rit La ear = Sy eS hry = ey ard be Dg ata i! Lae ere a4, i

A a = = = = = terpe aa ape Tso | af ee Dik a Cs fe DENT Wires (cd S oh a

z PS ae eee ee ee

Even taking postal delays

rT into account, you can therefore " expect to receive your parcel nel Pees within about 10 days of sending olf your ordet te it's felayed

eyond hat, chances are you ve

‘2 eee ordered a title which hasn't yet ine Ee been released. Do please check

Fr

Cat 1a Pew rae at 7 ee ic eee athe urLis rh id a et Sar id Lal | fa eh pada Le fe

ol T-)e1-1+) Ba-ts((-) can join in!

Readers in the Republic ol IRELAND can order any ot goods al tie same rates as Aihemee: readers provided that ae iymentis Made in pounds Stering Tf you wish to pay inirnsah punts you mus! agqd a [his.50 surcharge LN ADDITION to allowing for the current exchange Tate thats What itcosts us top 7 Fes CF Posi order:

Readers ' I EUROPE mustadd 25 ‘elo th ecosi of their order to allow for « postage rates, Paym In pounds oferung

ifyou live OU TSIDE L IRE ‘ete ea 7d 50 “Ss tothec i your

aetsd Io. 4

these

WY in ¥our che f =

5 ee i, a over postage. Please 1 z whether you require

Yer ¥ Wie

= BOs Le be nos cu ¥ ' Ail -Tiall OF SuUTTACe Gell will f re refur cB. =| Lr tase “= whe My - C Supsiank aly cheaper Wan te exira

2 ee money

ei C187: we Tums out

agdin, payment must be in

DOUNGS Sterling

aac ——

Seuid Ret hang ce a Pag

. ist han eae here for t ce

Sorcery spirit Higa at the top, or Shoes nee few days.

“alle Pirin position ower _ revitalized

= . y UP the chute Highway snes Uler ibis

L. n the seriou: bk | steamrolicr

been swapping weleed Tasword and Mini Offi Christmas? Read Se abe EL n= Which

| e answers,

a ro | a ke

For anyo yotng form and sysem™ - sr anyone eT TLL having yroubie- nere 3am ,aown oF whal to so and how to dow. vou have ai your ral

TAL Ol jo votes 10 eac

These cal ike on UP * of votes 7

22 Trust a

Cr |

gposal al

in chart

numeel aifterent unt adup tol For e* ample: could ¢

1 i Or yor 2 10 qnoiher and } each 1° fhreae CIheTs You yust have 49 alloca LQ vores sfact your preter eyces as ac What you

jue peat eagible we tive aifferent

a5.

4g ia ay

ar 8 votes each That 3 hing you cat gend Wi phaic-

There have -pokery ov

One further lay a4 | do is

imi i in the past: * ~ we wal

copies °

been anempts 3" jwage4ry 50 % i to a¥

any possibiily ot ui happening

again

L. sor cory 1Z- Nonterraqdy®

ie gant rel 2, Way of the Exploding Fist ~, bb = ‘1 Be OP rte Mee 13.3

hig hours i rs |

ght Lore 14. Matchday

3. Kni A a

4. Highw@

=

th

¥ Encounter 15. stariom

‘J artex

3. Sorcery 16. soul of a Robot

6. pun Dar ach 17. Jet Set willy

us chess

7. Footb is. Cy*

g. Frank Bruno's Boxing ae. fe Po om 19- poulderdas®

it por oe

9. Alie™ 8 20. w izar a’

te as BPs

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diepecrscssecnogetacs my at ee

10. comb atLy™*=

Tat elit

ates rrr on Reinhart ne

inasmuch ofthe formas IMPORTANT — : you wish (front and back). §.- Don't forget to fill in this bit 1 Then cut out the ENTIRE PAGE (even if you've only filled in parts of it) and post it to: AE AA Forms, 18 Pinewood Address. Drive

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ware of your choice. THREE of these | Game Software house Retail price | unspeakably exciting prizes are on | | offer, All you have to do is invent a | couple of litle phrases to run along | the bottom of our pages next to the | | words AMSTRAD ACTION — some- REST RANae s SNREEO ER is ARES OAA poTRA A CRE SS ica eR TAP CR RL CE dL DATE Gey Mma A ls | thing as idiotic, yet appropriate as |

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2. Please give 4 rating out of 10 for the follow- ing ‘one-off features appearing in this tseue: Cover cassette... Money board game... Ocean Empire feature... Maraport Maf,,,. Nomlerraqueous/5.0.A Robot maps... 1986 diary,,,,

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ISSUE 2

Elite preview...

Christmas add-ons quide,,,, Machine code introduction,,.)

High-score challenge

a Z a = _ a 5 ra = 2 a . ts Sara .* te ag a] va iw n't, J —_ / a ‘a ‘a r . z mi 1 Fr “a ok ae 7 . 5 EAN Back. Pais in = re we _ os m= boom ar aiteath " : at a eA mr eae ae a ca ie a a pa ae ri se a ‘ Pe a, as, st at : oath ReeE. : Bet at ata m cage a Se le Se ae tee ay acest Lat Sa be De ea ee J P 7 | Poel . . aa : t Tomy Te TT JMET fy en ees - ee a al feral M ay ot ee a a at se ae ye era: acme weak Yat ts “ty os * Boe ee a : a 2 . ty F

ne inno ibresad

; See ce ee Fillin yourname |

ond oddress on the form on the reverse of this Boe:

lat se atlck next 16 any of the follow- he Le eritin mre a cross next to those

10. Please give an overall rating out of 10. and brief comments on any of the following cam- eee Ppuler magazines you are familiar with:

- AMSTRAD ACTION...

ate as = .

games scoment? a) greatly increase it? b) slightly increase if? ¢) keep the balance aa it is? d) slightly reduce it? ©) greatly reduce it?

t a AMSTRAD COMPUTER USER...

we devote: | te program J

a) [t's too moch. b) It's too little. pater geese c) it's about right.- as : s . : =

Have you tried typing in any of the tounge we've printed (yea {na}? ie

Wore you Basically sansficd withthe results 2 (yamine)? +s COMPUTER AND VIDEO GAMES

areas Comments:

* Do you have any suggestions for features

oor: topics we could cover in furure tesues* os

shigeeni Arena rin gala ANTTIX

ae (_onimerrts-

err tasaen}caremeeneisebetsspanionieneer + stenenaa

He A

ze YOUR COMPUTER any of the follow- Comments:

il. Do you have any other comments or sug- gestions io make on the magatine (please send a separate letter if you wish)?

Deri benadiipap 1reepad CC a dT |

of Aumwirad ton. Put a cross _ definitely don't = se “oN 3 : = oe : BEGG EF ER PRO PETER ea ED PB

BERR ERE P ee EERE EER PRE PERE EES SPREE eee

[hereby challenge the following high scores printed in Amstrad Action:

GAME

High-score entry

I would like to register my high-scores in the following Amstrad games: |

GAME

SCORE TIME TAKEN

I promise these are genuine scores achieved without using cheat methods.

Signed

® DOT MATRIX

: SHINWA CP A80 YE AR FUNG FU | ee + ey | EPSON FX80 F/T

MATCH DAY. F 80 CONFUZION 88 = 6.26 EPSON FX100 F/T

phd ye .48 ROCKY HORROR SHOW 895 =TREanaentnirer

FRIDAY THE 13th 8 680 ostanstame = 08 5.28] || Ml NEAR LETTER QUALITY

RENEGADE 820 A 5 6875) || EPSON LX80 GOOD £190.00 £218.50 WORM IN PARADISE e748 SORCERY arian: ae CANON 1080A BETTER £225.00 £258.75 THE FVIL.CROWN 5 6 7B JUKI 5510 (col. option) BEST £249.00 £286.35 THEDEV'S CROWN, 35 BEACHED (Ch 908 «7801 || CANON11S56A = ——_— £335.00 £385.25

THE DEVIL'S CROWN SLAPSHOT | you

ROBIN OF SHERWOOD = 98.957 50| || mi DAISY WHEEL THEATRE EUROPE : & DAISY STEP 2000 CODE NAME MAT Ii ; 7h EPSON DX400

ALL AMSOFT TAPES

DAAGONTORC THE COVENANT WIZARD'S LAA STARICN SOUTHERN BELLE REACH HEAD (D>) SORCERY + iD) COMBAT LYNX DU CVARUAICH) FRANK BRUNO EXPLODING FIST WEW TO @ RELL INTER RA THOR KARATE Sry Vv. SPY

| VAR IN PARLADIGE EVERYONE'S A WALLY ONE ON ONE ROCCO ae a FUTURE BALAN Jack:

| THE oeait

| SIA LANCELOT KNIGHT LORE ALIENE

cd eo EO Pooneom

515-60 17-95

_ = | 7-74 £8-90

QUICK SHOT II NOW ONLY £6.50 | TAS | £7-74 £8-90 ALL PRICES INCLUDE P&P ! INTER CABLE —6 44000 1245

Pe... Nae PRINTERS | beaten iierssomesine meatsenpetiive | |] EDSON JX.BO SPECIAL OFFER £450-00 £517-50 the game you require listed: please ring lor - a O1-731 4607. } | NOW ONLY 3 MINUTES FROM JUI N 23 Mé2 | Sapsiulgeo ars 25 MINUTES/LEEDS 20 MINUTES) ANIMATED STRIP POKER PLEASE NOTE IF YOUR ORDEREXCEEDSEso | | __ NB; FROM EAST USE JUNCTION 24

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SOFTWARE New titles arriving every ¢ every day, please fing fore. ey TOP RATES PAID mer ce es Serer Submit your work now to =n egal ve 7g" | SOUTHERN BELL 18 120 BLABY COMPUTER GAMES _SiRKES BACK 898 748 FmHnMOSnomNG 48 790 FRAMOEG T HOLLTNDOD 885 Ta | ssw How DROS OF Tm as 7.20 SHERWOOD Tae | THESEVERENOG STORY =—|.85 7.48 | Cros ays House, aria ve ua m 7M manic ay aie 1 od OT. ASC TU i are | | Lutterworth Road amd Put ee 6 2 BUCA OPP, Td RL OF eT 6s Te | ! REC MOON 155 40 MODES OF YESOD $05 7ag° | MASTEROF THELAMPS Te Blaby, Leicester aT r _ pa BRIAN JACKS SUPERSTAR un de acne ys si | GRANDPRIC RALLY? = SCRABBLE iT TELEPHONE (0533) 773641 | Se nian = = eer sr oe EXECUTION 758 650 | FIGHTER PILOT ss Tal TORRORMOUNES im 6t we hc Dalat 700 | | sev ScT Way 7 SOGRAND a ee , : : ) Pr oRal is ts — in fa eye etn a i 998 7.80 | MASTERCHESS 16 650 BUCK ROGERS i 24 NUMBER PAINTER a6 7.20 Le “Sedan aot it 7.4" HAPPY NUMBERS an 7.00 OAAK 8M TAPPER HM HAPPY LETTERS a0 7.00 NaC TED 716 6) 6 GeyHon 4 78" wearer wen ; an GENESIS =" iik ia ae Pia | SORCERY 17) 700 ASGARTONPORTSTaMEY 49) Tar UTILITIES | DY WANATE DAW 1 6§ MO VRCECHESS 12 110 §«GUIDEAMSTA BASIC] 1985 16.95 | Professional Graphic Adventure Creator Morne wanmon 488 07) MEAG US 7.0) ADISGASSEMOLER 2485 18.96 | 7 at ' HACKER 6.85 78 PROQUEST PUTURE 6 700 | EASLAMCALC . AMAZING VALUE at £8.50 inc. p. & p. | | THEYSOLOA MILLION «9935 748 WARLORD a6 7 SPREADSHEET 19.95 16.95 r 2 | | ee } | mansroat os: 7a STamOM 1% 74) OFM DATABASE 24.00 18.00 UPGRADED version (V1.1) now available with: pl cl TATE ef tne peer Pee prt LE Ree tant A | : — |} ics | EVEDAMISSNDOKES 4.95 671 TRA | 1 820 : | | MULTI-INPUT Language Analyser —HISPEED graphics | | sacowsamous 6 07) Tim 586 (i TRANSACT 3000 2495 : MULTIPLE colour sets — COLOUR mixing — STIPPLE SMUGOLERS COVE =—-F.85 A200 SLAPSHOT O16 671 MACHINECODETUTOR 14.95 11.95 ; | | ALIEN 295 748 AMP JET 25 7 MASTERFILE 296 1855 plus all the version 1.0 features EMGMTLORE LM 74d | TREDEVLS CAgWN $9 18 MASTERCALC M95 18.95 |) CW GAA ‘15 72 fies 1s “p THE OUSLL 14.95 11.94 : ney ion is only availabl er THE WAY OOF THE BORO OF THE sett £6 6&2) THEILUSTRATOR 1495 11.96 EXISTING USERS sha for at OF uideue aneet jn RA RCE Me a -XISTING ERS — ) eturnc | RED ARROWS , WORLD SERIES BASEBALL 1 THE CODE MACH O65 16. upgrade BE -< (return cassette). EVERYONE'S AWALLY 8.95 7.MK MYPERSPOETS 46 47 AMSeRITE (1496 1195 ee Cheques/P.O.s to:- | | | DENOTES NEW TITLES THAT ARE AVAILABLE IN THE NEAR FUTURE PLEASE RING FOR CONFINAAATION | CAMEL MICROS (Tel: 0392 211892) | WHY NOT COME AND PICK UP YOUR SOFTWARE PERSONALLY | : | Sto LArtt.... ; | H ATION CRESCENT Wellpark, Wileys Ave., EXETER, | WESTCOMBE PARK, BLACKHEATH, LONDON SE37ER. RIGHT Devon EX? SBE : OUTSIDE WESTCOMBE PARK RAILWAY STATION ON THE

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/® Adventure bonanza Infocom's famous adventures hit the Amstrad! Aitch Hiker's Guide, Zork Trilogy and much more reviewed in depth by The Pilgrim. Plus the latest Level § blockbuster, The Wormin Paradise, and all the tips, pokes and letters that make The Pilgrim the live- liest adventurer around.

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A veritable feast of new games reviewed with our customary thoroughness -— /mpossible Mission, Swords and Sorcery, Frankie, Spitfire 40. Not to mention the latest mega-games from Ultmate.

ADVERTISERS’ INDEX

Alligata 53 Gargoyle 64 Micronet73 Shekana 95 Amstradraw 95 Good Byte 11] Micropro 21 SJB Disks 61 Artic 7] GremlinGraphics66 Mikrogen91 Soft Insight 111 Blaby 111 Hisoft 98 Mirrorsoft 26, 45 Ultumate 19 | Brunning 30 Incentive 87 Ocean 76-79,backcover USGold 45 Bubble Bus 107 Interlock 111 inside f.cover Viper 72 Camel Micros 111 Imagine 22-23 Pride Utilities 98 Virgin 68 Campbell 30 Load ‘n’ Run 96 Printerland 11] | iad Firebird Insideb.cover Microbyte 57 Qual-Soft 57 | ae | — : ff ] ACTION rund a happy new yoar !oall our raaders

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Ocean Software is available from BEE), WHSMITH, ee) WOOLWORTH. LASKYS. Rumbelows,Greens

PECE RUM 4 ae Mh LES or. WwOoOLWwOr | - Gee Spectrum Shops and all good software dealers

Ccean Software Limited 4 6 Central Strect. Manchester M2 5NS Telephone: 061-832 6633 Telex: 669977 Oceans G